ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statistics are collated by his Department on the number of abandoned cars.

Jonathan R Shaw: Statistics on the number of abandoned vehicles are collated from WasteDataFlow and are published on the DEFRA website.
	The statistics reveal a decrease from 223,500 in 2000-01 to 81,700 in 2006-07.
	A copy of the data has been placed in the Library of the House.

Aggregates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the tonnage of aggregates extracted in each year since 2002.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on mineral extraction in Great Britain is available from the Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry undertaken by the Office of National Statistics for the Departments for Communities and Local Government and Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Information on aggregates extracted is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Aggregates (sand and gravel and crushed rock) extracted 
			  Million tonnes 
			   England  Wales  Scotland  Total 
			 2002 159.0 19.5 30.8 209.3 
			 2003 153.3 19.5 30.2 203.0 
			 2004 160.1 19.6 34.0 213.7 
			 2005 151.4 19.2 33.5 204.1 
			 2006 152.8 21.0 33.4 207.2

Aggregates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of aggregates tonnage was recycled in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of the amounts of construction, demolition and excavation waste used as aggregates in England are available from the 'Survey of Arisings and Use of Aggregates in England' published by my Department. The survey is undertaken every two years. Information for the years 1999-2005 is as follows:
	
		
			   Million tonnes 
			 1999 22.1 
			 2001 36.5 
			 2003 39.6 
			 2005 42.1

Flood Control: Vacancies

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vacancies for  (a) flood risk engineers,  (b) flood risk planners,  (c) flood risk project managers and  (d) other flood risk management posts there are, in each region; and what steps his Department is taking to (i) recruit and (ii) retain people with relevant skills.

Phil Woolas: Flood risk vacancies at the Environment Agency as of 14 May 2008 are broken down by region and can be found in the attached appendix. Figures for other operating authorities are not available centrally.
	The Environment Agency runs a combination of national recruitment campaigns, targeted localised activity and annual schemes to attract civil engineering graduates and students for its Foundation Degree course in Rivers and Coastal Engineering.
	The Environment Agency supports professional development enabling flood risk management engineers to achieve incorporated and chartered engineering status through the Engineering Council.
	The Environment Agency has developed a new reward system to help recruit and retain employees with specialist skills; this will be implemented this year subject to relevant approvals.
	
		
			  Appendix 
			  Region  Positions  Vacancy 
			  FR Planners 9 
			  FR Engineers 8 
			  FR Project managers 9 
			  Other 1 
			 Anglian Total  27 
			
			 Midlands FR Planners 1 
			  FR Engineers 5 
			  FR project managers 8 
			  Other 3 
			 Midlands Total  17 
			
			 North East FR Planners 2 
			  FR Engineers 9 
			  FR project managers 9 
			  Other 0 
			 North East Total  20 
			 North West FR Planners 1 
			  FR Engineers 10 
			  FR project managers 7 
			  Other 3 
			 North West Total  21 
			
			 Southern FR Planners 3 
			  FR Engineers 7 
			  FR project managers 4 
			  Other 0 
			 Southern Total  14 
			
			 South West FR Planners 4 
			  FR Engineers 15 
			  FR project managers 9 
			  Other 2 
			 South West Total  30 
			
			 Thames FR Planners 1 
			  FR Engineers 9 
			  FR project managers 7 
			  Other 4 
			 Thames Total  21 
			
			 Wales FR Planners 2 
			  FR Engineers 4 
			  FR project managers 7 
			  Other 1 
			 Wales Total  14 
			
			 National Capital programme management Service Project Managers 35 
			 Head Office Flood Risk management Other 10

Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects Sir Michael Pitt to publish his final report on the summer floods of 2007.

Phil Woolas: I expect Sir Michael Pitt to publish the final report in the period late June to early July.

Floods: Planning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to conclude his Department's review of emergency planning procedures and measures to be taken following the summer floods of 2007.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA published a substantially revised Lead Government Department Plan, which sets out the responsibilities of DEFRA and others in relation to serious flooding, last December. A further revised version was issued on 22 May 2008. As revised, the plan takes account of lessons identified following the summer 2007 floods, the East Coast Tidal Surge of last November and the floods earlier this year, as well as issues raised in the Interim Pitt report.
	DEFRA will continue to review and revise emergency planning procedures in light of any further recommendations from the Pitt Review and future flood events.

Horses: Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 464W, on horses: animal welfare, when he will place in the Library a copy of the file; what the reasons are for the time taken to place the file in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Some of the papers were placed in the Library of the House on 3 June. The delay was caused by the need to identify those papers not to be published as they attract legal professional privilege.

WALES

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Information about the gender and ethnicity of Wales Office staff is published in our departmental annual report, available in the House Library or on our website at:
	www.walesoffice.gov.uk
	The Wales Office is a small organisation, which, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, does not specify the number of staff with disabilities for privacy reasons.
	Wales Office staff are not required to provide any details of their sexuality, so information on this is not available.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in his Department in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Paul Murphy: No bonus payments have been made this financial year.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Staff appraisals for the year 2007-08 have just been completed.
	No performance-related payments have been paid to date, and so a breakdown is not available.

PRIME MINISTER

House of Lords Reform

David Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects Government policy on reform of the House of Lords to be implemented.

Gordon Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) on 2 June 2008,  Official  Report, column 641W.

Developing Countries: Disease Control

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  pursuant to his recent announcement on the provision of bed nets, what discussions he had with the All-Party Parliamentary Malaria Group prior to the announcement;
	(2)  pursuant to his recent announcement on the provision of bed nets, what the basis was for the announcement that US$200 million would be spent on 20 million bed nets; what estimate he has made of the market price of bed nets; and on what type of bed net this estimate was based;
	(3)  what arrangements he made to inform hon. Members of the arrangements for provision of 20 million additional bed nets.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Please see the combined response.
	Officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) have regular contact with the All-Party Parliamentary Malaria Group (APPG) about all aspects of malaria containment and treatment.
	The Prime Minister's announcement pledged the UK to provide 20 million bed nets as a contribution to the wider effort needed to meet universal coverage. A fixed cash sum was not committed to the actual costs will vary by country depending on market conditions and individual country costs.
	DFID anticipates a bed net unit cost of about £4.50 but precise costs will vary from country to country. Decisions on type of bed net will be taken according to specific country needs.
	The decision to pledge twenty million bed nets represented an intensification of one part of the UK's existing policy towards malaria containment and is in response to the initiative to increase global bed net coverage.

SCOTLAND

Scottish Business

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government are taking to ensure a long-term stable economic environment for Scottish business.

Des Browne: This Government's fiscal rules and economic policies have established the conditions which have allowed more than a decade of macroeconomic strength for the UK.

Child Poverty

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the representatives of anti-poverty groups in Scotland on the Government's policy on child poverty.

David Cairns: I hosted a roundtable meeting on child poverty in Scotland in January, which brought together key Scottish charities and Members of this House. All sides welcomed the chance to make better connections on tackling child poverty, and I will maintain an ongoing dialogue.

Postal Services

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on postal services in Scotland.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.

Wave and Tidal Power

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the development of wave and tidal power generation in Scotland.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with our Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform colleagues on a range of issues. We fully recognise the potential Scotland has to develop wave and tidal power electricity generation. The European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, which has already benefited from £2 million of funding from the UK Government, will play a key part in advancing such technology.

Renewable Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the proportion of Scotland's energy requirements met by renewable energy.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have had no such recent discussions with the First Minister. As this Government's Energy Bill makes clear, our energy requirements can only be met from a mix of sources, including renewables.

Card Accounts

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the payment of pensions and benefits in Scotland through card accounts.

David Cairns: None. The current Post Office Card Account contract ends in March 2010. The DWP is leading on procuring a successor and expects to announce the successful bidder later this year. The existing Post Office Card Account is a product provided by Post Office Ltd and is available throughout Great Britain. The successor product will also be available throughout Great Britain.
	The Government remains committed to allowing people to access their pension and benefit in cash at the post office if they choose to do so, and there is a range of accounts which make that possible. The new account will need to be available on a national basis and accessible to those who need it.

Energy Demand

Frank Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on energy demand in Scotland.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with our Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform colleagues on a range of issues. The Energy Bill, which will update and strengthen the legislative framework so that it is appropriate for today's energy market and fit for the challenges we face on climate change and security of supply.

HMS Gannet

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet Ministry of Defence officials to discuss HMS Gannet at Prestwick airport.

Des Browne: I regularly meet with officials to discuss a range of matters and, as my hon. Friend will be aware, I visited HMS Gannet on 29 February 2008.

Electricity Generation

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of electricity generation capacity in Scotland.

David Cairns: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, East (Mr. Marshall) on 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1730. The most recent assessment we have made is that Scotland has about 10.5 GW of electricity generation capacity.
	The Government's Energy Bill highlights the need to have a diverse electricity generation mix in the future. This includes renewables, clean fossil fuel technology and nuclear.

TREASURY

Corporation Tax: EU Action

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the European Commission on proposals for a harmonised EU corporate tax base; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, and his officials have regular discussions with the European Commission on a broad range of tax issues.
	The Government are not in favour of a common consolidated corporate tax base as we are sceptical about both the principle and the practicalities.

Corporation Tax: EU Action

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the European Commission to make further proposals on a harmonised EU corporate tax base; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The European Commission has the right of initiative in proposing EU legislation. The publication of legislative proposals, including the timing of any proposal, are matters for them.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budget of each Minister in his Department is for entertainment in 2008-09.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 28 April 2008
	Treasury Ministers are not allocated a budget purely for entertainment. Such spending would form part of their conference and hospitality budgets covering internal and external conferences, catering and meeting refreshments.
	The conference and hospitality budgets for each minister in 2008-09 are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Chancellor 25,000 
			 Chief Secretary 5,000 
			 Exchequer Secretary 2,500 
			 Economic Secretary 4,500 
			 Financial Secretary 1,500

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has  (a) undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake into the effects of the increase in excise duty on certain vehicles in the 2009-10 financial year, with particular reference to the effects on the retail value of such vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Budget 2008 reformed the VED structure to strengthen the environmental incentive to develop and purchase fuel-efficient cars, as well as to ensure that existing cars that should pay VED that is more closely related to the level of carbon dioxide that is emitted.
	The Government took into account a number of factors, including the social, economic and environmental impact of changes to VED, before announcing these changes.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Secretary's statement of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1470, on vehicle excise duty 
	(1)  what his Department's definition of low income is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of low-income households which have bought cars in band (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C, (iv) D, (v) E, (vi) G; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: There are numerous definitions of what constitutes a low-income household, and the Government do not collect data from drivers when purchasing tax discs according to their household income.
	However, the best available relevant data suggests:
	around half of households in the lowest 20 per cent. of incomes do not pay vehicle excise duty at all (Expenditure and Food Survey);
	where lower income households do own a car, they are more likely to own a pre-2001 car, for which the maximum VED rate will be £200 in 2009, as opposed to the maximum VED rate of £440 for post-2001 cars; and
	on the income breakdown recorded in the DfT's National Transport Survey, of new cars sampled between 2004 and 2006, of all households sampled with incomes less than £15,000, 41 per cent. had cars in current VED bands B or C. Of households with incomes less than £20,000, 40 per cent. had cars in VED bands B or C. This compares with the overall average for all cars, of 31 per cent. in VED bands B or C.

Gift Aid

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of take-up of Gift Aid tax relief was assumed in the projected current receipts for 2008-09 contained in the 2008 Red Book.

Jane Kennedy: The Red Book estimates of current receipts for income tax in 2008-09 allow for both Gift Aid basic rate repayments to charities (£0.9 billion) and higher rate relief to donors who are higher rate taxpayers (£0.2 billion).

Housing: Prices

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of  (a) the likely trend in house prices over the next 12 months and  (b) the impact of that trend on the United Kingdom economy.

Angela Eagle: The Government included a discussion of house price prospects in paragraphs B.69 and B.70 of the 2008 Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC 388). Box B7 of the same document discusses the relationship between house prices and consumer spending.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings in payments of  (a) council tax benefit,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) pension credit that will arise as a result of the increase in the personal allowance for income tax announced on 13 May 2008.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The increase in personal allowances will primarily affect housing and council tax benefit recipients who are in work. The number of in-work recipients of housing benefit is relatively small—around 300,000 for the last year of published data—and not all of these people will be taxpayers.
	The personal allowance change can only affect pension credit where someone aged under 65 is part of a claim, and as with housing and council tax benefit, not all these people will be taxpayers. Pensioners aged 65 or over normally have a five-year assessed income period (AIP), meaning they do not need to report changes to their retirement provision (income from capital, annuities or pension) that occur within those five years. Couples where one pensioner is over 65 and their partner under 65 are also eligible for an AIP. Overall therefore the effect of the increased personal allowance in 2008-09 is very small.
	The combined savings from these benefits is therefore both modest in relation to the cost of the increased allowance, at around £30 million, and uncertain. A breakdown between benefits is not possible because of the small size of the effects and the associated uncertainties.

Pornography: Children

Si�n James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much child pornography was seized under section 139(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of items of child pornographic material seized by HM Revenue and Customs in the financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 appears at page 73 and page 78 of their respective annual reports.

VAT: Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a reduced rate of VAT applies to the installation of external cladding on houses; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: VAT is not chargeable on work carried out in the course of the construction of new housing. A reduced rate of VAT of 5 per cent. is available for the installation of external cladding on existing houses if the primary purpose of the work is to insulate the walls. The standard rate of VAT of 17.5 per cent. generally applies to all other installations of external cladding.

VAT: Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he plans to apply a reduced rate of VAT for the installation of  (a) double or triple glazing and  (b) energy efficient boilers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to apply a reduced rate of VAT on retail sales of  (a) energy efficient lightbulbs,  (b) insulation and  (c) other energy saving products for self installation; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The availability of VAT reduced rates is governed by the European VAT agreements, signed by successive governments. The Government is making the case at EU level for more widespread application of reduced VAT rates to energy-saving and energy efficient products.
	Where reduced rates are available under European VAT rules, these have been applied where they provide the most cost-effective and well-targeted support for the Government's environmental objectives. For example, a 5 per cent. reduced rate applies to the installation of boilers that are designed to be fuelled solely by wood, straw and other vegetal matter; and to certain grant-funded installations of other boilers and heating appliances.

Vulture Funds: Taxation

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the tax revenue collected from vulture funds registered in the UK in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the interaction of refunded work expenses and the assessment of a person's eligibility for working tax credits;
	(2)  whether expenses incurred and refunded as part of a job are counted as income when assessing yearly earnings in order to award tax credits;
	(3)  what procedures are in place to assist people who wish to claim tax credits based on their yearly earnings but also have refunded expenses detailed on their P60s which may be misinterpreted as income.

Jane Kennedy: When claiming the child and working tax credits, individuals generally have to report all income of a tax year which is taken into account for income tax purposes, including earnings and taxable expenses from employment. However, individuals are entitled to deduct from their employment income for tax credit purposes the amount of those expenses that are allowable for tax purposes.

TRANSPORT

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) her Department and (ii) the agencies for which she is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The central Department and its agencies had fewer than five apprenticeship schemes  (a) during 2007. In line with our policy, the Department cannot provide the actual figure as we would like to protect the identities of the individual(s) concerned.
	The central Department and its agencies had no advanced apprenticeship scheme  (b) participants during the same period.

Aviation: Chilterns

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many additional households in and around the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be overflown by flights at 3,000 feet as a result of the Luton Airport flight path changes proposed by National Air Traffic Services;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of people living in the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty who will be affected adversely by the proposed National Air Traffic Services' changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has made of the objections by the Chilterns Conservation Board to the proposed changes to Luton Airport flight paths; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what environmental guidance her Department has provided to the National Air Traffic Services and the Civil Aviation Authority on the protection of the tranquillity of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the current consultation on the Luton, Heathrow and Stansted airport flight paths.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It would be premature for the Department to offer comment on any airspace change proposal while it is subject to consultation under the independent Airspace Change Process.
	Airspace planning and regulation is the responsibility of the independent. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The process for making changes to airspace is governed by the CAA's Airspace Change Process. Under this process it is for airspace change sponsors to develop and consult upon proposals. Detailed guidance is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, how they should be measured and who should be consulted.
	Informed by the consultation, the airspace change sponsor will submit the proposal to the CAA's Directorate of Airspace Policy for assessment against regulatory requirements. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA's process reflects the Secretary of State's Directions and Guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the specifications are of the National Air Traffic Services model for estimating aircraft emissions;
	(2)  what percentage of Terminal Control North movements originated or terminated at UK airports or airfields in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what forecast her Department has made of  (a) average daily and  (b) the total number of air traffic movements in Terminal Control North airspace in 2014;
	(4)  what the  (a) average daily and  (b) total number of air traffic movements in Terminal Control North airspace was in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(5)  what her Department's assessment is of the merits of streaming aircraft arriving into Terminal Control North to obviate holds;
	(6)  if her Department will publish the details of the model agreed with National Air Traffic Services for estimating aircraft emissions in respect of the Terminal Control North proposed changes to airspace;
	(7)  how population counts under the proposed Terminal Control North aircraft holds have been calculated.

Jim Fitzpatrick: These are operational matters for NATS, the air navigation service provider, in connection with their ongoing Terminal Control North airspace change consultation under the terms of the independent Civil Aviation Authority's Airspace Change Process. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his questions today (UIN 205327). I have re-directed other appropriate matters to the chief executive of NATS.

Aviation: Noise

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the relative perception of aircraft noise in  (a) rural areas and  (b) urban areas;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the viability of routing aircraft bound for Stansted over trunk roads such as the A14 to minimise noise nuisance;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has made of the viability of alternating the location of aircraft stacks for Stansted in order to achieve a more equitable distribution of related noise disturbance;
	(4)  what assessment her Department has made of the viability of stacking aircraft bound for Stansted over the sea to minimise noise nuisance.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It would be premature for this Department to offer comment on any airspace change proposal while it is subject to consultation under the independent Airspace Change Process.
	Airspace planning and regulation is the responsibility of the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The process for making changes to airspace is governed by the CAA's Airspace Change Process. Under this process it is for airspace change sponsors, for example NATS, to develop and consult upon proposals. Detailed CAA guidance (CAP 725) is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, advice on methods to assess the relative impact of changes and who should be consulted. This guidance is available on the CAA's website.
	Informed by the consultation, the airspace change sponsor will submit the proposal to the CAA's Directorate of Airspace Policy for assessment against regulatory requirements. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA's process reflects the Secretary of State's Directions and Guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives. This includes guidance on taking into account the impacts of routes both over heavily populated areas and over rural areas.

Bus Services: Concessions

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will review the funding arrangements of the national bus concessionary fares scheme to ensure that local authorities are not required to meet any local shortfall; and what methodology was used to calculate the grant to travel concession authorities in 2008-09 for the scheme.

Rosie Winterton: We have no immediate plans to review the current funding arrangements for concessionary travel and remain confident that there is sufficient funding in aggregate to meet the costs of the statutory minimum concession. We will of course be monitoring the impact of the new concession closely.
	From 2008-09 the Government are providing additional funding for the new England-wide statutory concession of 212 million, 217 million and 223 million through a special grant. The Department consulted local authorities and others on funding in autumn 2007. Over 200 responses were received. The special grant distribution option chosen was the most popular. The Government are confident that the extra funding is sufficient to meet the total cost to local authorities, as it is based on generous assumptions around fares, pass take-up, extra journeys and additional costs.
	The methodology to calculate the special grant was set out in special grant report no. 129, discussed in Parliament on 25 March, and available from the House of Commons Library.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any officials in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Central Department  (a) recorded a nil response in relation to the above, however our agencies  (b) responded as follows:
	
		
			  (b) Agencies 2005-07 
			   Number 
			  (i) Breach of data protection requirements  
			 Disciplined (1) 
			 Dismissed (1) 
			   
			  (ii) Inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data  
			 Disciplined 9 
			 Dismissed 8 
			 (1) The Department is unable to provide figures in these instances as fewer than five instances were recorded. In these circumstances, information is withheld in the interests of protection of individuals' identities.   Note:  For the same reason, rather than report on 2005, 2006 and 2007 individually, the data has been suppressed into a single period, 2005-07.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Correspondence

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1840-41W, on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: correspondence, how many complaints her Department has received about items going missing in the post.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DVLA records show that the number of complaints received by persons who claim that they have not received an item of post dispatched to them by DVLA is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 206 
			 2002 239 
			 2003 242 
			 2004 434 
			 2005 566 
			 2006 562 
			 2007 553 
			 2008(1) 107 
			 (1) The 2008 figure is for January to March.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the average fine imposed for the offence of driving without insurance was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people aged  (a) under 20,  (b) 21 to 30,  (c) 31 to 40,  (d) 41 to 50  (e) 51 to 60,  (f) 61 to 70,  (g) 71 to 80 and  (h) over 80 years were convicted for driving without insurance in the last three years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice relates to the offence of 'use of a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks'. In 2006 (latest available) the average fine imposed for the offence was 185.
	The following table provides data on total findings of guilt for the offence by age group of offender from 2004 to 2006 (latest available).
	
		
			  Findings of guilt at all courts for offences of using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks( 1) , by age group of offender, England and Wales, 2004-06 
			  Number of offences 
			Age groups 
			   All ages  10 to 20  21 to 30( 2)  31 to 40  41- to 50  51 to 60  61 to 70  71- to 0  81 and over 
			 2004 322,816 74,021 160,236 59,655 21,945 5,502 1,198 207 52 
			 2005 289,345 61,223 147,423 52,370 21,485 5,430 1,156 194 64 
			 2006 267,670 50,562 136,850 50,139 22,504 5,987 1,315 239 74 
			 (1) Offence under section 143(2) Road Traffic Act 1988.  (2) Default age of 25 recorded when age not known.   Notes:  1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Driving Tests

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres her Department plans to relocate in the next 12 months; what the reason is for relocation in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency plans to relocate 54 driving test centres in the next 12 months. The test centres and the reason for relocation are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Driving Test Centre  Reason for relocation  Relocating to 
			 Aberdeen MPTC Programme Aberdeen MPTC 
			 Ayr MPTC Programme Ayr MPTC 
			 Basingstoke MPTC Programme Farnborough MPTC 
			 Bexleyheath MPTC Programme Erith Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) 
			 Blackburn MPTC Programme Blackburn MPTC 
			 Brighton MPTC Programme Burgess Hill MPTC 
			 Burton On Trent MPTC Programme Burton on Trent MPTC 
			 Camborne L MPTC Programme Redruth MPTC 
			 Carlisle MPTC Programme Carlisle MPTC 
			 Chester MPTC Programme Chester MPTC 
			 Cupar MPTC Programme Kirkcaldy MPTC 
			 Dundee MPTC Programme Dundee MPTC 
			 Ellesmere Port MPTC Programme Chester MPTC 
			 Farnborough MPTC Programme Farnborough MPTC 
			 Fort William Casual hire terminated by landlord Proposed new site in Fort William 
			 Gedling MPTC Programme Colwick MPTC 
			 Gillingham MPTC Programme Gillingham MPTC 
			 Gosport MPTC Programme Lee on Solent (Farehem) MPTC 
			 Gravesend MPTC Programme Gillingham MPTC 
			 Haverfordwest MPTC Programme Haverfordwest MPTC 
			 Hayes MPTC Programme Uxbridge MPTC 
			 Herne Bay MPTC Programme Thanet Way MPTC 
			 Hove MPTC Programme Burgess Hill MPTC 
			 Inverness MPTC Programme Inverness MPTC 
			 Kettering MPTC Programme Kettering MPTC 
			 Kidderminster Property is in very poor condition Lower Gornal 
			 Kings Lynn MPTC Programme Kings Lynn MPTC 
			 Kirkcaldy MPTC Programme Kirkcaldy MPTC 
			 Leicester Welford Road MPTC Programme Wigston MPTC 
			 Lincoln MPTC Programme Lincoln MPTC 
			 Minehead MPTC Programme Taunton MPTC 
			 Norwich MPTC Programme Norwich MPTC 
			 Pembroke Dock MPTC Programme Haverfordwest MPTC 
			 Penzance MPTC Programme Redruth MPTC 
			 Peterborough MPTC Programme Peterborough MPTC 
			 Plymouth MPTC Programme Plymouth MPTC 
			 Reading LGV MPTC Programme Greenham Common MPTC 
			 Sheffield - Handsworth Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes Proposed new site in Sheffield 
			 Shirley MPTC Programme Garretts Green MPTC 
			 Southend MPTC Programme Basildon MPTC 
			 Spalding MPTC Programme Peterborough MPTC 
			 Sunderland Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes Proposed new site in Sunderland 
			 Sutton-in-Ashfield Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes Proposed new site in Sutton-in-Ashfield 
			 Swansea MPTC Programme Swansea MPTC 
			 Swindon MPTC Programme Swindon MPTC 
			 Taunton MPTC Programme Taunton MPTC 
			 Trowbridge Lease break Existing DTC at Chippenham 
			 Warrington MPTC Programme St Helens MPTC 
			 Washwood Heath MPTC Programme Garretts Green MPTC 
			 Wellingborough MPTC Programme Kettering MPTC 
			 West Bridgford MPTC Programme Colwick MPTC 
			 Wisbech MPTC Programme Kings Lynn MPTC 
			 Wolverhampton MPTC Programme Wolverhampton MPTC 
			 York Lease expiry and landlord will not renew Proposed new site in York

Driving Tests

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres have been closed in each of the last five years; and what the reason for closure was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency has closed 11 driving test centres in the last five years. The reason for the closure of each centre is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Driving Test Centre  Reason for closure 
			 2004 Newport (Gwent) Lease terminated by the landlord. 
			 2004 Croydon LGV Lease terminated by the landlord. 
			 2005 Wanstead (Nightingale Lane) Temporary accommodation while we did repair work on our other building. 
			 2005 Wallington Old Town Hall Lease terminated by the landlord under the landlord and tenant Act 1954. 
			 2006 Wishaw Vacated permanent accommodation due to MOTO termination. Relocated to short-term accommodation in 2006. 
			 2006 Birmingham (Quinton) Landlord (Ofcom) served notice on DSA, terminating the MOTO in place 
			 2007 Thornaby The condition of the building had deteriorated to an unacceptable level. Tests were relocated to the Darlington Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC), Middlesborough and Hartlepool. 
			 2007 Glasgow Cowglen The only tests conducted here were for Approved Driving Instructors. Offices were used one day a month which did not make economic sense. 
			 2007 Wrexham Lease expiry. Landlord would not renew as redeveloping site. Replacement being sought. 
			 2007 Hessle Co-located at Hull MPTC 
			 2008 Gainsborough Co-located at Scunthorpe MPTC 
		
	
	MOTO is a 'Memorandum of terms of occupation'an informal agreement with another Government Department.

Driving Tests

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres have been relocated in each of the last five years; and what the reason for relocation was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency has relocated a total of 43 driving test centres in the last five years. The test centre and the reason for relocation are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Driving test centre  Reason for relocation  Relocated to 
			 2002 Glasgow Shawbridge Move to better accommodation locally Glasgow, Mosspark 
			 2003 Whitby Move to better accommodation locally Whitby 
			 2003 Oswestry, Salop Road Move to better accommodation locally Oswestry, Maesbury Road 
			 2003 Shrewsbury, Bell Lane Move to better accommodation locally Shrewsbury, Yeomanry Road 
			 2004 Coventry Holyhead Road Move to better accommodation locally Coventry, Bayton Road 
			 2004 Coventry Mason Road Move to better accommodation locally Coventry, Bayton Road 
			 2004 Aberdeen, Clunie Move to better accommodation locally Aberdeen, Altens 
			 2004 Crieff, King Street Move to better accommodation locally Crieff, Broich Road 
			 2004 Dingwall Move to better accommodation locally Alness 
			 2004 Dunfermline Move to better accommodation locally Dunfermline, Estania 
			 2004 Glasgow, Shettleston Move to better accommodation locally Glasgow Baillieston 
			 2004 Inverness, Torvean Avenue Move to better accommodation locally Inverness, Cradlehall 
			 2004 Kenton Bar Move to better accommodation locally Newcastle, Elswick 
			 2004 Preston, Cottam Lane Move to better accommodation locally Preston, Nelson Court 
			 2004 Rochdale Move to better accommodation locally Rochdale, Blueberry Business Park 
			 2004 Tain Move to better accommodation locally Alness 
			 2005 Cannock, North Street Move to better accommodation locally Cannock, Ridings Park 
			 2005 Edinburgh Parkhead Traffic in area became too busy so moved to better accommodation locally Edinburgh, Currie 
			 2005 Hartlepool Lease expiry, move to alternative accommodation locally Hartlepool 
			 2005 Grays Move to better accommodation locally Tilbury 
			 2006 Aldershot Disposal of site by MOD Farnborough 
			 2006 Cleethorpes Move to better accommodation locally Great Grimsby 
			 2006 Gloucester MPTC Programme Gloucester MPTC 
			 2006 Thornaby Brus House Lease expiry and property to be demolished Thornaby Appleby House 
			 2006 Shrewsbury, Yeomanry Road MPTC Programme Shrewsbury MPTC 
			 2007 Edinburgh Joppa MPTC Programme Musselburgh MPTC 
			 2007 Exeter MPTC Programme Exeter MPTC 
			 2007 Gateshead MPTC Programme Gateshead MPTC 
			 2007 Glasgow, Mosspark MPTC Programme Glasgow MPTC 
			 2007 Hull MPTC Programme Hull MPTC 
			 2007 Ipswich, LGV MPTC Programme Ipswich MPTC 
			 2007 Ipswich, Woodbridge Road MPTC Programme Ipswich MPTC 
			 2007 Peterhead Move to better accommodation locally Peterhead 
			 2007 Rotherham MPTC Programme Rotherham MPTC 
			 2007 Rugby Move to better accommodation locally Rugby 
			 2007 Sidcup Move to better accommodation locally Sidcup 
			 2007 Skegness Move to better accommodation locally Skegness 
			 2007 Winchmore Hill MPTC Programme Enfield MPTC 
			 2007 Worksop Move to better accommodation locally Worksop 
			 2008 Cwmbran MPTC Programme Newport MPTC 
			 2008 Darlington MPTC Programme Darlington MPTC 
			 2008 Scunthorpe MPTC Programme Scunthorpe MPTC 
			 2008 St. Helens MPTC Programme St. Helens MPTC

Driving Tests

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to ensure that newly-qualified drivers receive instruction from their driving test examiner on the dangers of  (a) driving too fast and  (b) driving after drinking alcohol.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The role of the examiner at the practical test is to assess whether a candidate has demonstrated the necessary skills and behaviour to be licensed to drive unsupervised. Our national driving test also includes an assessment of knowledge and understanding relating to safe driving and an assessment of hazard-perception skills undertaken as a computer-based test.
	Effective assessment is a vital element in maintaining standards, but must be supported by learning and motivation. Research shows that driving too fast and driving after drinking alcohol are two of the most dangerous behaviours which are proven to contribute to fatal and serious road accidents. Our policy is to make youngsters aware of these dangers before they reach the age at which they can apply for a provisional driving licence and for those messages to be continuously repeated throughout the learning to drive process and subsequently.
	The dangers of speeding and drink driving are two of the key messages promoted through the Department's Think! Campaign and by local authority Road Safety Officers and other road safety delivery partners involved in road safety education. Also, as part of our Learning to Drive proposals aimed at reducing the number of newly qualified drivers killed or seriously injured on our roads, it is proposed to introduce a pre-driver qualification in safe road use. This foundation certificate, which would be optional from age 14, would provide a further opportunity to raise awareness of these and other dangerous behaviours before learner drivers get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Driving: Licensing

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons aged  (a) under 20,  (b) 21 to 30,  (c) 31 to 40,  (d) 41 to 50,  (e) 51 to 60,  (f) 61 to 70,  (g) 71 to 80 years and  (h) over 80 years hold driving licences.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table gives the estimated number of full driving licence holders in Great Britain in 2006 for the age groups specified, based on data from the National Travel Survey.
	
		
			   Number of licence holders (millions) 
			 17-20 years 1.1 
			 21-30 years 5.1 
			 31-40 years 7.1 
			 41-50 years 7.0 
			 51-60 years 6.0 
			 61-70 years 4.2 
			 71-80 years 2.3 
			 81 years and over 0.7 
			 All aged 17+ 33.7 
			 Unweighted sample size (individuals 17+) 17,345 
			  Note:  Numbers may not add exactly due to rounding.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with the Humber Bridge Board on tolls on the Humber Bridge; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Department for Transport officials met regularly with the Humber bridge board to discuss the revision of the Humber bridge debt interest rate which came into force on 19 June 2007. A copy of the new loan agreement was placed in the House Libraries at that time.
	The revised debt interest rate covers the five year period from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2011 at which time the debt interest rate will be reviewed.
	There have been no further discussions about the Humber bridge debt since 19 June 2007.

M1: Midlands

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed in the Midlands on 15 May 2008; upon whose authority the road was closed; and for what reason a closure was deemed necessary.

Tom Harris: The northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway was closed at junction 18 because a load had been shed from a goods vehicle. The carriageway was closed at 07.22 hours at the request, and on the authority, of the Highways Agency's traffic officer on the scene.

Mersey Tunnel: Tolls

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider the merits of introducing legislation to transfer responsibility for Mersey Tunnel toll charges to her Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has no plans to take over responsibility for Mersey Tunnel tolls.

Midland Main Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will provide further carriages for trains on the Midland Main Line services run by East Midlands Trains through Kettering.

Tom Harris: There are no current plans to provide additional carriages for trains on the midland mainline services run by East Midlands Trains through Kettering.

Motorways: Road Traffic Control

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation her Department held with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on the implementation of the ramp metering scheme at Junction 8/9 of the M4 at Maidenhead.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has been in communication with stakeholders at a local level for all ramp metering sites implemented during 2007-08, including the scheme at junction 8/9 on the M4.
	Meetings were arranged with key individuals from key local agencies that would have an interest or may be concerned around any impact as a result of the new schemes. These meetings included presentations, Q and A feedback as well as access to information leaflets for wider cascading internally to all staff. A self explanatory publicity video was also shown.
	Liaison took place between Highways Agency representatives and the following stakeholders who have jurisdiction in the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead locality:
	Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council (28 November 2007Head of Highways Engineering)
	Thames Valley Police (29 November 2007Traffic Management Teams)
	Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust (27 November 2007Emergency Services Directorate)
	Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services (28 November 2007Chief Fire Officer)

Motorways: Road Traffic Control

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints her Department has received on the operation of ramp metering schemes.

Tom Harris: There have been 36 inquiries. 10 of which were categorised as complaints and 26 as requests for information.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the  (a) volume and  (b) value of vehicle fuel that would be saved in a 12-month period if the speed limit were always observed on motorways.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is difficult to make accurate estimates of these fuel and cost savings without more robust data on both detected and undetected motorway speeding.
	Analysis for the Climate Change Programme Review (CCPR) estimated the potential impact of 100 per cent. compliance to the 70 mph speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways. The analysis estimated that 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent would be saved over a 12 month period, equating to around 0.8 billion litres of road fuel. Assuming pump prices of 116p per litre (petrol) and 129p per litre (diesel), from an oil price of around $120-$125 per barrel, the value of the fuel saving would be 1 billion. However, this fuel saving would only occur at significant costs in enforcing the speed limit.
	Enforcement of motorway speed limits does save fuel, but enforcement is done primarily for road safety reasons.

Pollution: Merseyside

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her latest estimate is of levels of traffic pollution in  (a) Merseyside and  (b) the vicinity of the Dartford Crossing.

Rosie Winterton: There is no single figure available for each of the two areas. Local air pollutants vary according to the pollutant in question, the time of day and the precise location. The Department for Transport does not hold centrally the measurements recorded at the various monitoring locations. Data from the UK automatic air quality monitoring network can be accessed via the National Air Quality Information Archive (www.airquality.co.uk). Further monitoring is also undertaken by local authorities and these can often be accessed via the websites of the relevant local authorities. For example, in the case of Liverpool graphs showing levels of the four main pollutants over the previous seven days at a number of sites are available from the city council website.

Railways: Cumbria

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with BRB (Residuary) Ltd on the consultation draft of the Route Utilisation Strategy for Lancashire and Cumbria, published by Network Rail.

Tom Harris: Ministers have regular discussions with BRB (Residuary) Ltd on a range of issues. Network Rail is responsible for developing Route Utilisation Strategies and BRB consult with Network Rail prior to making any decisions on the disposal of its property assets. These consultations are carried out in accordance with the guidance that the Government announced to Parliament in July 2007.

Railways: Finance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Designated Community Rail Fund is part of the 15 billion of funding for rail announced in her 2007 Rail White Paper.

Tom Harris: The Designated Community Rail Fund is initially for the year 2008-09 which falls outside of the period covered by the White Paper. It is not, therefore, part of the 15 billion.

Railways: Trent Valley

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the double rail tracking project on the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line to be completed.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport expects four tracking of the West Coast Main Line in the Trent Valley area to be ready for the December 2008 timetable to operate on schedule.

Roads: Accidents

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people of each sex were killed in car accidents in Hampshire where at least one of the drivers involved was aged 21 years or under in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of (a) males and (b) females killed in reported personal injury road accidents in Hampshire which involved at least one car driver aged 21 years or under in 1997 to 2006 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			   Male  Female 
			 1997 10 1 
			 1998 9 2 
			 1999 14 6 
			 2000 14 4 
			 2001 9 3 
			 2002 12 2 
			 2003 8 4 
			 2004 12 6 
			 2005 12 3 
			 2006 6 3

Roads: Construction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Highways Agency road building contracts have been awarded to a construction company under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.

Tom Harris: The agency has 22 extant road construction or maintenance contracts that were awarded to five of the companies currently under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading in relation to potential bid-rigging in the construction sector. These companies are Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd., Carillion Construction Ltd., Interserve Project Services, Morgan Est and Galliford-Try (Morrison).
	In most cases, the agency's awards have been to subsidiaries or sister organisations of these companies or operating units that fall under the same parent organisation.
	The procurement processes adopted by the agency have a range of steps built-in to minimise the risk of anti-competitive behaviour by contractors. These fully reflect guidance as published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and indeed exceed it in most cases. The main method of mitigating the risk of anti-competitive behaviour is to use a quality: price based assessment of all major tenders. The quality aspect is usually worth in excess of 70 per cent. of the total marks available. These contract specific quality statements cannot be rigged collusively as that would be obvious to those assessing such bids.

Royal Visits

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2890W, on Caribbean: royal visits, what the cost was of the hire of the yacht Leander by HRH the Prince of Wales during his official visit to the Caribbean; and how much was incurred in  (a) crew hire,  (b) fuel,  (c) provisions and  (d) other related costs.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the Caribbean on an official FCO visit from 3 to 14 March. The visit involved travelling to a number of countries in the area. In considering travel options, the royal household is required under the grant in aid to have regard to a number of criteria including value for money. In this particular case, the household considered a number of options. They concluded that the combination of scheduled flights to and from the Caribbean combined with a chartered boat represented the best value for money. In addition to producing significant savings on travel costs, the use of a boat also resulted in a significant saving on accommodation costs and a reduced carbon footprint. The cost of chartering the Leander was 210,000. This included crew hire and fuel. In addition 10,176 was spent on provisions for those staying aboard the Leander.
	The travel arrangements were endorsed by both the Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the basis that they represented best value for money.

Shipping: Freight

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight facilities grants were provided to waterborne freight operators in each year since 2000; and what the value of such grants was in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The freight facilities grants that have been awarded to support shifting of freight from road to water since 2000 are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of grants  Value of grants (1) 
			 2000 6 5,019,779 
			 2001 7 3,650,266 
			 2002 9 13,325,654 
			 2003 7 5,755,319 
			 2004 2 5,028,165 
			 2005 2 1,319,653 
			 2006 4 1,301,317 
			 2007 1 1,370,000

Shipping: Freight

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight facilities grants were partially or fully repaid by waterborne freight operators as a result of  (a) the proposed scheme failing to operate,  (b) traffic passing through the facility failing to match the traffic commitment and  (c) the grantee failing to provide information on the annual traffic carried through the grant aided facility in each year since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Between 2000 and 2007 the Department for Transport has partially recovered two grants only for failing to deliver the traffic commitment the grantees had undertaken.
	One of the grants was for 1,021,187 awarded in 2000 and 244,620 was recovered in 2007. The other grant was for 503,032 awarded in 2002 and 472,471 was recovered in 2005.

Skipton to Colne Railway Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations she has received about the proposed disposal of the section of trackbed between Colne and Foulridge on the former Skipton to Colne railway route.

Tom Harris: BRB (Residuary) Ltd consulted on the future of their disused track bed between Colne and Foulridge in 2007 in accordance with the guidance that Government announced to Parliament in July 2007. A number of representations were received by the company as a result.
	Following that consultation, the autonomous Property Review Group agreed that the property should be offered for sale to Lancashire county council who have protected the route for transport in their Joint Lancashire Structure Plan.

Speed Limits: Fines

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was imposed in fines for speeding detected by speed cameras in  (a) Humberside and  (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department only holds information about cameras operating under the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales which ended on 31 March 2007. The amount imposed in penalties for offences detected by speed and red light cameras in Humberside and the East Riding of Yorkshire during the programme's final year was 2,169,840. The Department does not hold details of the split between fines for speeding and those for contravention of a red light. Since 1 April 2007 the deployment of safety cameras has been the responsibility of individual local partnerships. The amount imposed in speeding fines since that time will therefore be a matter for the Humberside Safety Camera Partnership.

Thames Gateway Bridge

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department have had with Transport for London on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge.

Rosie Winterton: Department for Transport officials have regular discussions with Transport for London regarding the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge, but there have been no recent discussions at ministerial level.

Transport

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when her Department's notes, LTN 1/04 and LTN 2/04, will be published;
	(2)  when her Department's cycling infrastructure design document will be published.

Rosie Winterton: Publication of Cycling Infrastructure Design is planned for this summer. We are reviewing the need for LTNs 1/04 and 2/04 in light of the extended scope of the CID document since consultation.

Waterloo Station

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the conversion of the Eurostar platforms at Waterloo for use by suburban trains to be completed; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: It is primarily the railway infrastructure outside Waterloo that limits the number of trains that can use the station rather than the number of platforms. Therefore the need is to run longer trains rather than more trains. So we are planning a large scheme to make sufficient platforms long enough to accommodate 10 and 12 car trains and to modify the junction layout on the approaches to the station. Such a scheme would allow the use of up to 50 per cent. longer trains than currently use the short platforms and would result in a large increase in capacity. The scheme also presents opportunities at Waterloo International to reconfigure the passenger circulation space and the interchange with other transport modes, and to better integrate the station into the surrounding area. Such an ambitious scheme requires very detailed planning to make the most of this unique opportunity.
	In order to make the best use of the Waterloo International facility in the meantime, the Department is working closely with Network Rail and SSWT to finalise the design and costs of the partial conversion of Waterloo International to accommodate some domestic services. Therefore some services could use platform 20 of Waterloo International from the timetable change date in December 2008.
	Following on from this, and linked to the delivery of the HLOS strategy and timescales, there will be a phased programme to lengthen services on the South Western network with Windsor line services extended to 10 cars and Reading line services extended to 12 cars. The 12 car Reading line services would utilise some of the Waterloo International platforms from 2010-12. For the next phase, the intention would be to extend mainline suburban services, (to destinations such as Shepperton, Hampton Court and Chessington), from eight to 10 cars. However, this will require complex reconfiguration of the infrastructure on the approaches to the station. As a consequence of the reconfiguration works, Windsor and Reading line services are expected to utilise the available platforms in the Waterloo International terminal. This is expected to be from 2012-14.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Absenteeism

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of unauthorised school absences resulting from family holidays taken in term-time.

Kevin Brennan: Our policy is to discourage all avoidable absence, including term-time holidays, because of the increased risk of underachievement or harm to children. We trust head teachers to judge whether any given absence is justified, such as a family crisis or when a parent's employer cannot or will not release them during normal school holidays. Head teachers can grant up to 10 days' holiday absence from school for special reasons, and longer periods in exceptional circumstances.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: In the Department, in the most recent financial year (2007/08), there were 23 people completing advanced apprenticeships and five people completing apprenticeships.
	The Department has no agencies.

Child Care: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many foster care placements there were in  (a) Greater London and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley in 2007;
	(2)  how many children were adopted in  (a) Greater London and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley in 2007.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 21 May 2008
	The following information is taken from the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007. The SFR is located at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml
	The number of looked-after children in foster care placements at 31 March 2007 in  (a) Greater London was 7,950 and  (b) the London borough of Bexley was 170.
	The number of children looked after that were adopted during the year ending 31 March 2007 in  (a) Greater London was 490 and  (b) the London borough of Bexley was five.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of daycare settings in the  (a) 15 per cent. most deprived and  (b) 15 per cent. least deprived local authorities were awarded ratings of inadequate following an Ofsted inspection for each year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 May 2008
	The rating of regulated childcare is a matter for Ofsted. The DCSF does not have this statistical information. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, will write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert dated 4 June 2008:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as her majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	Our source for identifying the most and least deprived local authorities is the Government's 'Indices of Deprivation 2007' (an index published once every three years), as taken from the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government www.communities.gov.uk. The deprivation index for each of three available inspection years ahs been used to identify providers falling into both the 15 per cent. most and least deprived local authorities. This information is presented in Table A.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the right hon. Beverley Hughes, MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	
		
			  Table A: Inspection data for day care providers between 1 April 2005 and 31 march 2008 
			Inspections between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006   Inspections between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007 
			  LA Deprivation Level  Total d ay care at 1 April 2006  Total inspected 2005-06  Total inspected 2005-06  inadequate  Proportion inadequate 2005-06  Total day care at 1 April  2007  Total inspected 2006-07  Total inspected 2006-07 inadequate  Proportion inadequate 2007-08 
			 15% least deprived 6,985 1,762 130 7.4% 6,910 2,476 152 61.% 
			 15% most deprived 3,396 814 97 11.9% 3,434 1,083 98 9.9% 
		
	
	
		
			Inspections between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 
			  LA Deprivation Level  Total Day care at 1 April 2008  Total inspected 2007-08  Total inspected 2007-08 inadequate  Proportion inadequate 2007-08 
			 15% least deprived 6,913 2,549 143 5.6% 
			 15% most deprived 3,420 1,219 102 8.4% 
			  Notes:  All inspection data from the regulatory support application (RSA) database as of 1 April 2008. Active provider data taken from the RSA database as of 6 April 2006, 30 March 2007 and 1 April 2008 respectively. LA deprivation level based on 'Indices of Deprivation 2007' on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government (www.comunities.gov.uk). The majority of the data underpinning the 'Indices of Deprivation 2007' represents 2005 although some data covers a number of years, for example an average of 2003-05.

Children: Disadvantaged

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much will be made available to train the additional 5,000 practitioners to deliver outreach services under Chapter One of the Children's Plan; and what mechanism will be used to determine eligibility for this funding.

Beverley Hughes: Rather than committing the Department to funding training of an additional 5,000 practitioners, the Children's Plan states that we will improve outreach services by establishing core principles and standards for an effective and comprehensive outreach service supporting this with:
	training materials and courses; and
	providing additional funding for practitioners without other sources of funding.
	This package will potentially enable some 5,000 practitioners to take up new training opportunities.
	As stated in response to your named day reply (8 May 2008), the DGSF has now started the relevant work on outreach. This is a three-stage project which will take place between 2008 and 2011. Stage one, a scoping study to gather information on outreach services, is designed to inform how the additional funding for training on outreach should best be spent. Stages two and three, development of core principles, standards, materials and delivery of training, will follow between 2009-11. We are currently in the process of commissioning researchers to take forward the first stage scoping study.

Children: Writing

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) schools and  (b) local authorities operate an Every Child a Writer Scheme.

Jim Knight: holding answer 2 June 2008
	Every Child a Writer is a new programme, outlined in our Children's Plan in December 2007. Final decisions on which local authorities and which schools will be involved are yet to be made. It is likely that, from September 2008, we will pilot the programme in nine authorities, one in each region. Further announcements will be made in due course as the programme is launched.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has issued guidance to staff and other building occupants on switching off personal computers.
	In November 2006 my Department introduced 'Nightwatchman' power management software to automatically shut down personal computers overnight and so reduce carbon emissions;
	A communications campaign involving: the use of electronic messages at reception points on turning off unused equipment; articles in our Department's Internal magazine on how to save energy; and advice on our intranet on saving energy; have all helped to raise staff awareness of the need to conserve resources and become more energy efficient.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Families Without Fear project in Brent.

Beverley Hughes: The Minster CentreFamilies Without Fear project received funding from the Strengthening Families Grant (SFG) programme (2005-08). An assessment of the effectiveness of this project, alongside all other SFG projects, will be made on receipt of its final report, which is due this month. All applicants in receipt of the SFG grant are required to demonstrate how they intend to share results and any products of their work with a wider audience.

Education: Young Offender Institutions

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average cost of an intensive supervision and surveillance programme is for a young offender.

Beverley Hughes: The average cost per young person of a six month Intensive Supervision and Surveillance programme is 8,500.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) does not currently record the amount of food waste that is generated at each of our buildings. This is included within our overall land fill statistics. Separate records are kept for all other waste streams that are recycled, for example paper, glass, plastics and cans. Discussions are underway with our catering and waste management providers as to how the DSGF can reduce the amount of food waste that is sent to landfill.

Further Education: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of 16-year-olds enrolled at a further education college is entitled to free school meals; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of 16-year-olds enrolled in a school sixth form is entitled to free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the table and relates to pupils in school sixth forms who are known to be eligible and are claiming their free school meal entitlement
	The requested information for further education colleges is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  State funded secondary schools( 1,2) : Number of pupils aged 16 in national curriculum year groups 12 to 14 by free school meal eligibility( 3,4,) , England, as at January 2008 (provisional) 
			   Pupils aged 16 in year groups  12 to 14 
			 Number of pupils(4) 201,330 
			   
			 Number of pupils known to be eligible for (and claiming) free school meals 11,200 
			   
			 Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for (and claiming) free school meals 5.6 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed, (2) Includes local authority maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes pupils with sole and dual (main) registration. (4) Age as at 31 August 2007.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Parents: Advisory Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of delivery of the extension of intensive phone-based support services under Chapter One of the Children's Plan; how large the service is; what its projected size is; what training will be provided for phone-based support services; and what the evidential basis was for the decision to expand the service.

Kevin Brennan: Parentline Plus is being funded 1.6 million over three years to deliver an expanded intensive phone-based support service. The current service which offers a series of weekly telephone appointments for callers who have complex and entrenched difficulties has been subject to two independent evaluations and has been proven effective. The new funding will allow for a pilot to test referrals from other agencies and professionals, such as CAFCASS and Parent Support Advisers. In total the service aims to reach up to 10,000 parents referred from Parentline and 25 local authorities over the three years. The service is provided by supervised parenting practitioners, who are trained to level 3 OCN and meet the National Occupational Standards for working with parents.

Parents: Advisory Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school-based parent support advisers are to be recruited in each of the next three years; and at what estimated cost as outlined in Chapter One of the Children's Plan.

Kevin Brennan: I announced a total of 33.5 million/34.5 million/34.5 million to be available to local authorities (LAs) for expansion of Parent Support Adviser (PSA) provision across all LAs over the three years 2008-11.
	The number of posts to be funded within any area will be a matter for local judgment. It is for LAs determine to prioritise how and where the PSA resource is deployed taking into account local priorities and evidence of PSA effectiveness from the pilot work. In order to maximise the benefits of this new funding we expect LAs to concentrate the resource in those schools where there is a high level of need, not currently being addressed through other initiatives.

Parents: Advisory Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Respect parenting experts there are in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority; how these experts provide support for families; and what the evidential basis is for the decision to expand the network of Respect parenting experts.

Beverley Hughes: Funding has been made available for 77 Respect parenting experts in England, covering 77 district councils (within the 72 top tier local authorities). They are delivering structured parenting programmes to the parents of families exhibiting antisocial behaviour, or at risk of doing so.
	Evidence shows that parenting programmes can improve parenting skills and help parents manage their children's behaviour. A review of parenting programmes by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence show significant long-term effects in improving children's behaviour. Given this strong evidence we have made a commitment in the Children's Plan to provide additional funding for at least one parenting expert in every local authority.

Parents: Public Participation

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people will be on the Parents' Panel; how they will be chosen; how he proposes to use the Panel in policy-making; and what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing the Panel.

Beverley Hughes: Our intention is that the Parents' Panel should comprise between 30-40 parents and carers of children aged 19 or under. We are in the midst of a competitive procurement exercise to appoint an external organisation with the right skills and expertise to run the panel. We aim to announce the successful organisation on 31 July. Their first task will be to recruit the parents, ensuring the panel is representing as far as is practicable, the national mix of parents in England.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the annual cost to the public purse of extending the universal early years entitlement of 12.5 hours a week to  (a) two and  (b) one and two-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We announced in the Children's Plan, 100 million funding for a three-year extension to the current pilot to offer some early years provision to two-year-olds. The extended pilot will offer up to 15 hours of free provision to the most deprived two-year-olds living in around 60 pilot local authorities.
	The pilot will allow us to evaluate clearly the benefits of a two-year-old offer for children and their parents.

Pre-School Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the annual cost to the public purse of increasing the universal early years entitlement to 20 hours a week; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We are currently funding 32 pathfinders to explore the extension of the early years entitlement from 12.5 to 15 hours, delivered more flexibly than at present. In 2009, we will extend the free entitlement to 15 hours nationally for the 25 per cent. most deprived three and four year-olds in each local authority, and in 2010 we will make a universal offer of 15 hours of free provision a week to all three and four year-olds. We have made available 590 million for this extension over the CSR period.
	We will consider any further extensions in the light of this pathfinder activity.

Pre-School Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what per child early years grant was awarded to nurseries in each local authority in England in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Since April 2004 all three and four year-olds have been entitled to a free part-time early education place for 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. From 2010, this offer will be extended from 12.5 to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year.
	Table 1 provides information on the number of three and four year-olds taking up or benefiting from early education places for the years 2004-2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of three and four year-olds taking up or benefiting from early education places ( 1, 2)  by type of provider, England 2004-08Position in January each year 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Private and voluntary providers(3)  
			 Number of children taking up early education places(4) 445,300(5) 432,800(5) 429,400(5) 446,900(5) 461,100 
			 Percentage of population (6) 39 39 38 39 39 
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education(4) 388,600(7) 396,700(7) 401,800(8) 420,700(8) 437,000(8) 
			 Percentage of population (6) 34 35 36 37 37 
			 Actual number of children benefiting from some free early education(9) n/a n/a  n/a 413,100 
			 Percentage of population (6) n/a n/a  n/a 35 
			 Independent schools(10)  
			 Number of children taking up early education places(4) 54,700 52,000 50,100 50,500 52,000 
			 Percentage of population ((6)) 5 5 4 4 4 
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education(4) 38,400(7) 39,200(7) 37,900(8) 37,900(8) 36,700(8) 
			 Percentage of population(6) 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Actual number of children benefiting from some free early education(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a 36,400 
			 Percentage of population(6) n/a n/a n/a n/a 3 
			 Maintained nursery and primary schools:  
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education 676,500 663,800 657,700 663,800 683,000 
			 Percentage of population(6) 59 59 59 58 57 
			 Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools  
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education 320,200 312,300 312,500 318,900 321,300 
			 Percentage of population(6) 28 28 28 28 27 
			 Infant classes in primary schools(11)  
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education 356,300 351,500 345,200 344,900 361,700 
			 Percentage of population(6) 31 31 31 30 30 
			 Special schools (12, 13)  
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education 4,100 3,700 3,600 3,700 3,800 
			 Percentage of population(6)   n/a   
			 All providers  
			 Number of children taking up early education places 4 1,180,500(5) 1,152,4009(5) 1,140,800(5) 1,165,000(5) 1,199,800 
			 Percentage of population(6) 103 103 102 101 101 
			 Number of children benefiting from some free early education(4) 1,107,500(7) 1,103,400 1,101,100 1,126,100(8) 1,160,400(8) 
			 Percentage of population(6) 97 98 98 98 97 
			 Actual number of children benefiting from some free early education(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,136,300 
			 Percentage of population(6) n/a n/a n/a n/a 95 
			 n/a = Not available  Less than 5 per cent. (1) Count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest hundred. (2) Numbers of three and four year-olds in schools may include some two year olds. (3) Includes some local authority day nurseries registered to receive funding. (4) Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice. (5) Scaled up from the data as returned by providers to al providers of early years education. (6) Number of places taken up by three and four year-olds expressed as a percentage of the three and four year old population. (7) Providers returned the number of three and four year-olds for which they had received or expected to receive funding. (8) Local authorities returned the number of three and four year-olds for which they expected to receive funding. (9) Any child attending more than one provider will have only been counted once. (10) Includes direct grant nursery schools. (11) Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes. (12) Includes general hospital schools. (13) Excludes pupils who are also registered elsewhere.  Note: Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four year olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2008, available on my Department's website
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000790/SFR12-2008.pdf
	The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was only introduced in 2006-07. We do not separately identify the amount of funding in the DSG for early years. It is up to the local authorities to decide how to distribute their overall allocation.
	In 2004-05 and 2005-06 LAs received funding to provide free nursery education for three and four year-olds through the under-fives sub-block of their Education Formula Spending Share (EPS). In 2004-05 3,208 million was funded through the under-fives block of the Education Formula Spending (EFS) and in 2005-06 3,456 million was funded. EFS was not ringfenced, so funding for educationincluding the notional under 5's fundingcould be spent on other sectors and vice versa.

Pre-School Education: Per Capita Costs

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what per pupil funding was awarded for three to five year-olds taking up the 12.5 hours a week early years entitlement in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Since 2006, funding for the free early education entitlement has been part of thededicated schools grant which funds schools and early years providers for all three to 15 year-olds. Funding for three to five year-olds is not separately identified and each local authority determines distribution to providers, including per pupil amounts.
	The underlying changes to the funding of children under five since 2001 make any figures on per pupil funding since that date incomparable.

Primary Education: School Meals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what foods are  (a) prohibited and  (b) discouraged in primary schools with Healthy Schools status.

Kevin Brennan: All primary schools, with or without Healthy Schools status, have to meet the food-based nutritional standards introduced in September 2006 for school lunches and from September 2007 for other school food. They will also have to meet the nutrient-based standards which will be introduced for primary school lunches in September 2008.
	Primary schools that have achieved national Healthy Schools status would have satisfied 41 criteria under four core themes which include a Healthy Eating theme. Under this theme, a Healthy School would have developed a food policy which ensures that lunches, breakfast club, tuck shop, vending machine and after-school food service (where available in school) meets or exceeds current DCSF school food standards.

Reoffenders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of breaches of a  (a) community rehabilitation order,  (b) supervision order,  (c) community punishment order,  (d) attendance centre order,  (e) curfew order,  (f) reparation order,  (g) action plan order and  (h) referral order led to a court appearance in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the  (a) breach rates and  (b) completion rates were for young offenders sentenced to a (i) community rehabilitation order, (ii) supervision order, (iii) community punishment order, (iv) attendance centre order, (v) curfew order, (vi) reparation order, (vii) action plan order and (viii) referral order in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 22 May
	Data on breaches broken down by individual order is collated centrally only for the community punishment order, community rehabilitation order and community punishment and rehabilitation order. The percentage of offenders fully completing these orders, alongside percentages of offenders whose orders are terminated together with reason and sex is given in the following table. This information is contained in the offender management caseload statistics 2006.
	
		
			  Table 5.1 Terminations of court orders by reason and sex: England and Wales 
			  Number of persons and percentages 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  CRO
			  Males and females
			 Ran their full course 72 72 71 68 67 68 60 57 56 58 69 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 9 8 8 8 9 8 8 9 9 10 8 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 4 5 5 6 7 7 9 9 10 8 7 
			 Conviction of offence 10 11 11 13 13 14 18 19 18 19 11 
			 Other reasons 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 5 5 4 
			 All CROs (=100 percentage) 51,385 51,516 53,943 59,648 60,135 58,842 57,877 60,427 60,584 50,745 31,216 
			 
			  Males
			 Ran their full course 71 71 70 68 66 65 59 56 56 57 69 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 8 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 8 7 
			 Conviction of offence 12 12 12 14 14 15 19 20 19 20 12 
			 Other reasons 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 5 5 4 
			 All CROs (=100 percentage) 42,025 41,636 43,193 47,181 46,930 45,753 45,217 47,495 48,421 40,675 25,184 
			 
			  Females:
			 Ran their full course 76 76 75 71 69 69 63 59 58 59 69 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 10 10 9 9 9 9 10 9 10 10 10 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 4 4 5 7 8 8 9 10 10 9 8 
			 Conviction of offence 5 6 7 9 9 10 13 15 16 16 8 
			 Other reasons 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 5 5 4 4 
			 All CROs (=100 percentage) 9,361 9,880 10,750 12,467 13,206 13,089 12,660 12,932 12,163 10,070 6,032 
			 
			  CRO element of CPRO
			  Males and Females
			 Ran their full course 57 61 61 58 56 57 52 48 45 45 59 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 13 11 11 11 11 11 13 12 13 12 11 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 10 9 10 11 11 10 12 13 14 13 10 
			 Conviction of offence 14 13 13 15 16 16 17 20 21 23 14 
			 Other reasons 6 5 5 5 6 5 6 7 7 6 5 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 14,479 16,992 19,014 21,049 19,867 17,940 14,387 14,222 14,298 12,607 9,000 
			 
			  Males
			 Ran their full course 57 60 60 57 56 57 51 48 44 45 59 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 12 11 10 11 10 11 12 12 12 12 10 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 10 9 9 11 11 10 12 13 15 13 10 
			 Conviction of offence 14 14 14 16 17 17 18 21 21 24 14 
			 Other reasons 6 5 5 5 6 5 6 7 7 5 5 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 13,272 15,393 17,185 18,870 17,786 16,021 12,807 12,736 12,977 11,488 8,097 
			 
			  Females
			 Ran their full course 59 66 63 59 57 58 54 51 48 46 60 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 
			  Terminated early for:
			 Good progress 15 14 11 13 14 15 19 18 17 18 16 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 11 7 11 11 11 9 11 11 14 13 9 
			 Conviction of offence 6 6 8 9 10 11 10 12 13 15 9 
			 Other reasons 8 6 6 6 8 5 6 6 6 7 5 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 1,207 1,599 1,829 2,179 2,099 1,920 1,580 1,486 1,321 1,119 903 
			 
			  CPO
			  Males and Females
			 Specified hours completed 71 71 72 72 71 71 69 68 66 68 62 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 14 14 13 13 13 12 12 12 12 11 14 
			 Conviction of an offence 6 6 7 7 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 
			 Other change in circumstances 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 
			 Warrant unexecuted 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 3 
			 Other reason 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 
			 All CPOs (=100 percentage) 49,015 46,606 45,237 49,372 49,030 48,996 51,251 49,430 51,517 49,081 23,762 
			 
			  Males
			 Specified hours completed 70 71. 78 71 70 70 68 67 65 66 60 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 14 14 12 13 13 12 12 12 13 11 14 
			 Conviction of an offence 6 6 3 7 9 10 11 11 11 12 12 
			 Other change in circumstances 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 
			 Warrant unexecuted 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 
			 Other reason 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 
			 All CPOs (=100 percentage) 45,207 42,627 40,896 44,246 43,678 43,231 45,161 43,482 45,364 43,087 20,571 
			 
			  Females
			 Specified hours completed 78 77 78 75 76 77 77 74 74 75 71 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 11 11 12 12 11 9 10 11 11 9 11 
			 Conviction of an offence 2 3 3 5 5 6 6 5 6 7 7 
			 Other change in circumstances 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 
			 Warrant unexecuted 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 
			 Other reason 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 
			 All CPOs (=100 percentage) 3,808 3,979 4,341 5,126 5,352 5,766 6,090 5,948 6,153 5,994 3,191 
			 
			  CPO element of CPRO
			  Males and Females
			 Specified hours completed 69 68 66 63 60 60 60 59 57 60 54 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 14 14 14 15 16 14 15 15 15 13 15 
			 Conviction of an offence 9 10 12 13 16 18 16 16 17 18 18 
			 Other change in circumstances 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 
			 Warrant unexecuted 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 
			 Other reason 2 3 4 4 3 3 3 5 5 5 7 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 14,324 15,762 16,527 20,093 17,468 14,831 14,688 14,654 15,159 13,919 6,288 
			 
			  Males
			 Specified hours completed 69 67 66 63 59 59 59 58 56 59 53 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 14 14 14 15 16 14 15 15 15 13 15 
			 Conviction of an offence 10 11 12 13 16 18 16 17 18 18 19 
			 Other change in circumstances 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 
			 Warrant unexecuted 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 
			 Other reason 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 7 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 13,109 14,304 14,902 17,984 15,643 13,255 13,072 13,228 13,767 12,729 5,616 
			 
			  Females
			 Specified hours completed 73 74 70 67 65 64 68 64 62 65 63 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 13 11 15 14 14 13 13 14 16 14 12 
			 Conviction of an offence 3 5 6 8 11 14 9 10 10 12 11 
			 Other change in circumstances 6 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 3 5 
			 Warrant unexecuted 1 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 
			 Other reason 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 6 5 5 8 
			 All CPROs (=100 percentage) 1,216 1,458 1,627 2,109 1,859 1,584 1,616 1,426 1,392 1,190 672

Schools: Transport

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on the fitting of seatbelts in all vehicles used to transport children to and from school.

Jim Knight: holding answer 2 June 2008
	There have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Transport on the fitting of seat belts in vehicles used to transport children to and from school. Seat belts must be fitted in all coaches and mini-buses carrying groups of children on organised trips, including when used for dedicated home to school transport, However much home to school transport is organised on service buses (typically double deckers) where there is no legal requirement to fit seat belts, as ills recognised that their design makes it technically difficult for adequate seat belts to befitted retrospectively.

Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many secondary schools have a specialism in  (a) mathematics,  (b) English,  (c) modern languages,  (d) dance,  (e) music,  (f) sport,  (g) science,  (h) drama,  (i) technology,  (j) humanities and  (k) other subjects; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many secondary schools have specialist status in at least one area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: 2892 secondary schools have specialist status. The following table shows how many schools are specialist in each of the main initial specialisms available and the five additional specialisms made available to high performing specialist schools (HPSS). English, dance and drama are not individual specialisms, with English being part of the humanities specialism and dance and drama covered by the arts specialism.
	
		
			  Specialism  Main specialism  Combined specialism  HPSS specialisms  Total number of schools with a specialism 
			 Arts 478 42 32 552 
			 Business and enterprise 249 23 8 280 
			 Engineering 57 12 0 69 
			 Humanities 116 28 32 176 
			 Language 220 19 111 350 
			 Maths and computing 272 25 51 348 
			 Music 26 10 16 52 
			 Science 316 47 63 426 
			 Sports 382 25 27 434 
			 Technology 564 19 3 586 
			 SEN 87  10 97 
			 Leading edge   205 205 
			 Raising achievement transforming learning   36 36 
			 Leadership partner school   14 14 
			 Training school   222 222 
			 applied learning (Previously vocational)   160 160

Sixth Form Education: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much per pupil funding there was for children taught in  (a) school sixth forms and  (b) sixth form and further education colleges in 2007-08; what the cost would have been of equalising funding per pupil at the level of school pupils in that year; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Statement of Priorities, published in November 2007, set out that there will be a simpler, more transparent, common 16-18 funding system for schools, colleges and providers. This will be based on a common measure of the size of qualifications or learning programmes, standard learner numbers, 22 learning hours per week and a provider factor that is unique to every institution. On the basis of information provided by the LSC, under this new funding system the national funding rate per pupil for 2008/09 will be 2,945 for school sixth forms and 2,860 for FE colleges. The equivalent figures for 2007/08 have been estimated at 2,884 for school sixth forms and 2,790 for FE colleges.
	The LSC hold the information required to calculate what the cost would have been of aligning funding rates between 16-18 pupils in school sixth forms and sixth-form colleges/FE colleges in 2007/08. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22 May 2008:
	Further to your question to the SOS for Children, Schools and Families and the reply by Jim Knight, Minister for Schools I would like to add the following piece of information.
	In his response Mr Knight mentioned our new 16-18 funding system which comes into effect for 2008/09 and gave you the equivalent funding rates per standard learner number (SLN, a measure of the number of learners and the breadth of their learning). These are 2,945 for school sixth forms and 2,860 for FE college learners (including Sixth Form Colleges).
	As this is a new system there are no equivalent figures for 2007/08 but one may use the difference between the two figures 85 as a proxy for the difference in funding in 2007/08 given that the rates would notionally have increased by 2.1% in both cases. The additional piece of information required to make the estimation that you have asked for is the number of SLNs in 2007/08. We estimate this figure to be 1,002,322. Therefore the cost of equalising the base funding rate per learner in schools and colleges would be approximately 85 million per year. In addition, there are a number of other factors influencing the funding differences between school sixth forms and FE, which are explored in more detail in a report undertaken for the LSC by KPMG, published on 6 May. This is available on the LSC's website at:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-fundinggap-may08.pdf
	We are working with DCSF and schools and colleges to review this funding difference and to look at ways of equalising funding.
	I hope you find this information useful.

Strengthening Families Grant

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what organisations were funded by the Strengthening Families Grant in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Strengthening Families Grant (SFG) programme was launched hi 2005 for the three year period, 2005-08.
	The SFG programme funded a total of 84 organisations (listed as follows) to support and develop activities in the area of parenting and relationship support.
	2as1
	ACGM
	Action for Prisoners' Families
	After Adoption
	Agency for Culture and Change Management
	Anyadwe Children and Family Welfare
	ARC
	Arch Initiatives
	Asian Family Counselling Service
	BAPs Care for Children Ltd
	Barnardos
	British Refugee Council
	Calderdale Women
	CEDC
	Change
	Chizuk
	Circles Network
	Cleverland Family Mediation
	Coram
	Deafax
	Depaul trust
	Eating Disorders Association
	Ezer Leyolds
	Fair Shares
	Families Need Fathers
	Family Matters Institute
	Family Matters York
	Family Nurturing Network
	Family Rights Group
	Family Welfare Association
	Fathers Direct
	Film It
	Family Welfare Association
	Good Shepherd Charities
	HomeStart
	Learning Partnership
	Lesbian and Gay Foundation
	Lubavitch Youth
	Mancroft Advice Project
	Marriage Care
	Medway
	Mid Staffs Mencap
	Minster Centre
	Muslim Welfare House
	NAGRQ
	National Black boys Can Assoc
	National Deaf Children's Society
	National Family and Parenting Institute
	National Tenants Resource Centre
	NCH
	NCH South West
	NCOPF
	NCVCCO
	New Forest and Romsey Mobile
	One Plus One
	PACE
	PAPYRUS -Prevention of young suicide
	Parenting UK
	Parentline Plus
	Partners of Prisoners and Families Support
	Place to be
	Poole Community Family Trust
	Positive Parenting Publications
	Prader Willi Syndrome Association
	Prisoners Families and Friends
	Race Equality Foundation
	Refugee Action
	Relate
	Revival Support Service
	RNIB
	Safe Ground
	SCOPE
	Somerset Family Partnership
	South London Tamil Welfare Group
	Springboard Family Project
	St. Christopher's Fellowship
	St. Mungo's
	Students Exploring Marriage
	Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships
	Totnes Community Family Trust
	Trust for the Study of Adolescence
	Wai Yin Chinese Women Society
	YMCA
	Young Voice

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adults enrolled on  (a) Level 2 apprenticeships,  (b) Level 3 advanced apprenticeships and  (c) higher education apprenticeships in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The information requested about apprenticeships starts in England is provided in the following table. Information about apprenticeships at level 4 is not separately available, and information about starts by level is not available before 2002/03.
	
		
			  Adult( 1)  apprenticeship starts by level 
			   2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07( 2) 
			 Level 2 apprenticeships 50,000 54,000 48,000 41,000 46,000 
			 Level 3 and 4 Apprenticeships(3) 36,000 32,000 28,000 27,000 31,000 
			 Total 86,000 86,000 76,000 68,000 77,000 
			 (1) Adult is defined as 19+. (2) Figures or 2006/07 are preliminary due to late provider returns, therefore these figures may be revised upwards. (3 )Because of small numbers includes higher education level 4 apprenticeships.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 1000.  Source:  LSC Individualised Learner Record.

Apprentices: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding has been allocated by his Department to  (a) adult Level 2 apprenticeships,  (b) adult Level 3 advanced apprenticeships and  (c) higher education apprenticeships in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

David Lammy: The Department and the Department for Children, Schools and Families allocate funds to the Learning and Skills Council for the provision of Apprenticeships in England. The allocations for 2007-08 to 2010-11 are outlined in our joint grant letter to the LSC. Our allocations for apprenticeships are not available in the form requested. The funds we make available are specified for 16-18 year olds apprentices and those aged 19 and over as follows:
	
		
			   Financial year (000) 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 16-18 apprenticeships 624,299 636,847 705,251 776,153 
			 Adult apprenticeships and work-based learning 275,010 290,068 317,024 333,646 
			  Source: LSC grant letter 2008-09

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: DIUS staff are issued with laptops which are turned off and stored securely when not in use.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether any officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. No officials in the Department have been disciplined or dismissed for alleged breaches of data protection requirements or for the inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data since it was established.

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 246W, on departmental equality, what percentage of top management positions in his Department were held by women; and what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by employees with disabilities in April 2008.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was formed as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. Pending transition to a common data collection system next year, the Department has access to information about its staff on the two databases of its predecessor Departments. Significant levels of non-declarationas regards ethnicity and disabilityaffect the quality of present data. Subject to this limitation, the representation of women and employees with disabilities in senior positions is as follows:
	 (a) Currently three of 10 members of the DIUS board and three of four non-executive board members are women;
	20 per cent. of the top management posts (permanent secretary and director general posts) are held by women (the Cabinet Office target is 30 per cent.);
	32 per cent. of DIUS. senior civil servants are women (the Cabinet Office target for the whole civil service is 37 per cent.); and
	 (b) Where status is known, there are no senior civil servants in the Department reporting a disability.

Further Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of 19 to 25-year-olds expected to enrol on their first full level 3 course in each of the next five years;
	(2)  if he will estimate how many  (a) 25 to 30 and  (b) 25 to 35-year-olds he expects to enrol on their first full level 3 course in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government are committed to ensuring that young adults have the opportunity to complete their education and gain a full level 3 qualification that will enable them to progress into skilled employment or higher education. We are committed to achieving the 2011 indicator of 56 per cent. of working age adults qualified to at least full level 3.
	Table 1 shows projections of the number of adults (to the nearest 1,000) studying for full level 3 in further education until 2010-11. Projections beyond that date and for other age groups have not been made.
	Table 2 shows projections of the number of adults aged 19+ (to the nearest 1,000) that will start a full level 3 qualification in Train to Gain and advanced apprenticeships through the employer responsive route. No breakdown by age is available. We have not measured the proportion doing first qualifications, although we expect it to be around 80 to 90 per cent. for Train to Gain.
	
		
			  Table 1: Adult learner responsive 
			 2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Total aged 19+ Further education Full level 3 learners 173,000 190,000 213,000 224,000 
			   of which, first full L3 95,000 104,000 117,000 123,000 
			
			 Aged 19-24 Further education Full level 3 learners 82,000 99,000 120,000 126,000 
			   of which, first full L3 45,000 54,000 66,000 69,000 
			
			 Aged 25+ Further education Full level 3 learners 91,000 91,000 93,000 98,000 
			   of which, first full L3 50,000 50,000 51,000 54,000 
			  Source: Based on LSC projections for Annual Statement of Priorities November 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Employer responsive 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Train to Gain L3 learners and advanced apprenticeships (aged 19+) 69,000 118,000 127,000 362,000 
			  Source: Based on LSG projections for Annual Statement of Priorities November 2007

Further Education: Higher Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many students studied a higher education course in a further education college in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of higher education students were studying at a further education college in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table. Information prior to the 2002/03 academic year is not available on a comparable basis.
	
		
			  Higher education enrolments( 1)  at English further education colleges( 2)  academic years 2002/03 to 2006/07( 3) 
			  Academic y ear  Enrolments 
			 2002/03 139,215 
			 2003/04 143,065 
			 2004/05 140,490 
			 2005/06 138,305 
			 2006/07(3) 131,040 
			 (1) Excludes students registered at a higher education institution but franchised out to a further education college. (2) Birmingham college of food, tourism and creative studies transferred to the higher education sector in 2002 and Leeds college of music transferred in July 2005. The figures have not been adjusted for colleges that transferred during this period from the FE to the HE sector, or for those which merged with HE institutions, and which therefore account for some of the year-on-year reductions. (3) 2006/07 data is provisional. The final sweep of 2006/07 data will be available in January 2009.  Notes: Figures are on a DIUS whole year count basis, which counts students enrolled at any point in the academic year, and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	The changes in the number of higher education enrolments at further education colleges are partly due to the transfer of institutions from the further education sector to the higher education sector. In addition, improvements to the reporting of franchising arrangements between higher education institutions and further education colleges may have contributed to the changes in numbers. Franchising is a process whereby one institution delivers a course on behalf of another and this often occurs between higher education institutions and further education colleges.
	The methodology for calculating the number of students studying at higher education level in a further education college has recently been revised and updated, providing a more consistent time series back to 2002/03 when the individualised learner record was introduced.
	On the above basis, the percentage of higher education students that were enrolled at an English further education college in the 2006/07 academic year was 6.6 per cent.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many people enrolled on  (a) access courses and  (b) foundation degrees in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) access courses and  (b) foundation degree courses were running in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is determined to develop and increase the range of non-traditional pathways into and through higher education. Improving the progress of school leavers into higher education will not be sufficient to meet the skills needs of the future. The Access to Higher Education scheme is one way of enabling adults, some of whom may have few other qualifications, or have been out of education for a number of years, to study successfully at the higher education level. The following table gives the available figures for Access to HE courses since 2006 in England and Wales.
	
		
			   2005/06  2006/07 
			 Total learner registrations(1) on QAA-recognised Access to HE courses in England and Wales 41,984 37,818 
			
			 Access to HE courses running in England and Wales (of total number available) 1,079 1,057 
			  (1,341) (1,258) 
			 (1) Figures include learners registered on Access to HE courses which are in Higher Education Institutions and learners which are not publicly funded.  Source: QAA. This data is collected by QAA from the 15 Access Validating Agencies in England and Wales. Data is collected retrospectively, following the completion of an academic year. As a result,  no data for learner registrations or courses running is available for 2007/08. 
		
	
	Over recent years we have seen an expansion of more flexible routes into HE and increased options for those wishing to benefit from an HE experience, such as Foundation Degrees and progression through professional and vocational courses, and figures show that the number of people applying to enter higher education continue to increase.
	The latest available information for the number of students on Foundation Degrees is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Foundation degree student( 1)  at Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges in Englandacademic years 2006/07 and 2007/08 
			  Academic year  Foundation degree students 
			 2006/07 60,580 
			 2007/08 71,915 
			 (1) Figures show counts of years of instance eligible to be counted in that years HESES or HEIFES return. See Annex E of HEFCE's HESES or HEIFES guidance for further informationhttp://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2007/07_26/  Source: Columns 1 + 2 of the Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey (HESES) and the Higher Education in Further Education Students Survey (HEIFES) produced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).  Notes: 1. 2007/08 values are provisional. 2. Figures cover Home, ED and Overseas domiciled students. 
		
	
	The UCAS website states that there are 3,986 Foundation Degree courses due to start in England in 2008. Figures for the number of courses running in 2006/07 and 2007/08 are not held centrally.
	The success of Foundation Degrees means we are likely to meet our target participation rate of 100,000 Foundation Degree students by 2010.

Higher Education: Science

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment has been made of the effect of Student and Technology Facilities Council funding cuts on university science departments with particular reference to  (a) staffing,  (b) student recruitment and  (c) research development; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Staffing at university science departments and student recruitment is a matter for the universities.
	STFC Council has made clear that the funding for physics exploitation grants will remain broadly level in this financial year (2008-09) and that there will be no major change in Particle Physics exploitation grant funding, other than for programmatic reasons, until after the Wakeham review has reported in late summer. Bill Wakeham, Vice Chancellor of Southampton university, has been asked to lead a review of the health of physics research in the UK, as part of a RCUK review of the continued health of key research disciplines.
	The number of Post Doctoral Research Assistants (PDRAs) supported by STFC's astronomy grants in 2008-09 will also be very similar to the previous financial year. In addition, the research community will continue to have access to a range of world-class facilities, including CERN and the European Southern Observatory.

Lokhai Foundation

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department has allocated to the Lokahi Foundation in each year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department does not hold the information at the level of detail you require, so to provide it to you would be at disproportionate cost.

Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what role the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property will play in shaping Government policy on the creative industries; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 2 June 2008
	SABIP's role is to give Government strategic advice on the formulation of policy in all areas of intellectual property including those related to the creative industries.

Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to commission research from the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 2 June 2008
	SABIP will be established on 2 June and is expected to a present a draft work programme for Ministers to sign off in September. The Secretary of State will then consider with the Minister for Intellectual Property what research needs to be commissioned from SABIP.

Vocational Training

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will provide a breakdown by main budget heading of the Train to Gain budget for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

David Lammy: Train to Gain is the Government's premier service to help businesses identify their skills needs and then to access the training and support they need to succeed including publicly funded training for low skilled employees and referrals to other sources of business support such as IIP. It is delivered through the Learning and Skills Council.
	Train to Gain is already a success, since it began roll out in April 2006 it has engaged with almost 90,000 employers, supported almost 420,000 learners and helped over 195,000 people to achieve qualifications.
	Expansion of Train to Gain is central to our aim to work with employers to improve productivity and competitiveness by raising the skills of their work force.
	The Train to Gain budget as published in the last LSC Grant Letter in November 2007, broken down by the main budget headings, is given as follows:
	
		
			   Budget (000) 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			 Train to GainDelivery 411,822 593,393 
			 Train to GainMarketing 7,919 6,900 
			 Train to GainEvaluation 1,700 1,700 
			 Train to GainBrokerage 41,578 24,000 
			 Train to GainHigher Skills for Women 10,000 10,270 
			 Train to GainLevel 3 Pilots 53,900 20,810 
			 Total budget 526,919 657,073 
			  Note: The Train to Gain budget increased by 6.392 million during 2007-08.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Mental Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to prevent armed forces personnel from developing mental health conditions;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to provide members of the armed forces who develop mental health conditions with support.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to chapter 6, paragraphs 90-97, of the House of Commons Defence Committee report, 'Medical Care for the Armed Forces' (HC 327), published 18 February 2008.
	In summary, in Iraq and Afghanistan, we deploy uniformed mental health nurses to provide the necessary in-theatre care and treatment for our personnel. Where possible personnel returning from front-line duty are provided with a period of decompression, that is to say they have the opportunity to recover in a group setting before returning to their families and friends. Within the UK MOD provides mental health care in accordance with the principles set out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. This is carried out primarily through 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health, with satellite centres overseas. This approach was endorsed by the HCDC report.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Saxon,  (b) CVR(T) and  (c) FV432 (and derivative) armoured vehicles are (i) in the Army's inventory, (ii) fully serviceable and (iii) capable of becoming fully serviceable at short notice; what the anticipated out-of-service dates are of each type; what change there has been to those out of service dates since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: For the purposes of MOD reporting, the definition used for fully serviceable is that the vehicle and everything on it is working and operationally effective. The information set out below, includes the FV430 Series, of which the FV432 is a derivative.
	
		
			   Saxon  CVR(T)  FV430 Series 
			 Number in inventory 147 1196 1490 (includes 900 Mk 3 Bulldog) 
			 Number fully serviceable 143 690 1118 
			 Number which could be made fully serviceable at short notice 2 160 82 
			 Current out of service date(OSD) 2014 2014-2025 2010-2025 
			2010 for all non- Bulldog. 
			2025 for last Bulldog 
			 Changes to OSD since 2005 Nil Move from 2012 to 2014 Nil

Defence Medical Training Establishment

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Defence Medical Training Establishment to be operational at the Whittington Barracks near Lichfield; what assessment he has made of progress to date; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Midland Medical Accommodation project is still in the assessment phase. It remains our intention to co-locate key elements of the Defence Medical Services at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. As well as the Defence Medical Services Training Centre, these elements are likely to include the HQ of the Joint Medical Command, which has recently replaced the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency, and the new Strategic Medical HQ that is now being developed.
	We hope to reach a decision before the summer recess on the next steps in taking forward this project. I will write to the hon. Member when we have reached a decision.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has for some time issued instructions for staff to close down personal computers (PCs) when not in use. These instructions are regularly repeated in notices to system users. Exceptions apply to some older equipment that is left switched on for technical reasons, but most legacy equipment is being replaced under the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) programme. DII is already implemented throughout MOD Main Building and many other key MOD sites.

Departmental Disclosure of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials in his Department if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment he has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 2 June 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice gave on Monday 2 June,  Official Report, column 640W.

Departmental Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals were employed as staff by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: No information on country of birth or nationality can be provided for civilian personnel. This is because the Ministry of Defence civilian personnel reporting system Human Resources Management System, does not identify personnel by country of origin, nationality or citizenship status.
	Country of birth information for UK armed forces personnel cannot be provided. This information was not collected centrally pre-joint personnel administration (JPA), the Departments' service personnel system, and is not available post JPA due to an ongoing data validation exercise, however, information on nationality can be provided.
	The following table shows UK and Non-UK Naval Service and Army personnel as at 1 April 2003, 2004 and 2005 and for all Naval Service, Army and RAF personnel as at 1 April 2006 and 2007.
	(1) Data are for UK regular forces which includes nursing services and excludes full time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel.
	
		
			   Navy and Army only( 1)  All services 
			  Nationality  April-2003  April-2004  April-2005  April-2006  Apr-2007( 2) 
			 UK Personnel 146,030 145,020 140,780 187,310 (3)181,350 
			 Non-UK Personnel 4,950 6,240 6,900 7,370 (3)7,640 
			 Unknown 2,700 2,360 1,550 1,170 (3)1,410 
			 Total 153,680 153,630 149,230 195,850 (3)190,400 
			 (1) Information on nationality for RAF personnel pre-joint personnel administration (April 2006 for RAF) can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Consequently the data in the table from 1 April 2003-05 only includes Navy and Army data. (2 )Due to ongoing validation of data from the new joint personnel administration system. UK armed forces data as at 1 April 2007 is provisional and subject to review. (3 )Provisional.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service)

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on private security contractors for UK military facilities in Iraq in each year since 2003.

Des Browne: Since UK forces first deployed into Iraq in 2003, we have not employed private military security contractors in order to help secure UK military facilities in Iraq.
	Between 1 July 2007 and 31 August 2007, we placed a contract with Armor Group in order to protect two vacant UN compounds within the Basrah Palace complex, at a cost of some 1.1 million.

Military Bands

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) military and  (b) naval bands there were in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The information is as follows.
	
		
			 1997 There were 55 Army Bands, 30 of which were Regular Army Bands and 25 Territorial Army (TA) Bands 
			 1998 As a result of the Strategic Defence Review, the number of TA Bands was reduced to 16 bringing the total number of Army Bands down to 46 
			 2006 Future Army Structures led to six Regular Army Bands being amalgamated whilst four TA Bands were established as part of TA Re-Balancing. This gave an overall Army total of 44 bands (24 Regular Army and 20 TA) 
			 2007 Northern Ireland Normalisation led to the disbandment of The Band of The Royal Irish Regiment leaving 23 Regular Army Bands and 20 TA, a total of 43 Army Bands 
			 Since 1996 The Royal Marines Band Service has comprised of five bands

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Foreign Investment in UK

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what definition his Department uses for high value in relation to foreign direct investment projects facilitated by UK Trade and Investment.

Gareth Thomas: A high value project has at least one of the following attributes:
	(a) RD intensive;
	(b) EHQ (European headquarters);
	(c) Knowledge-driven manufacturing;
	(d) Job numbers exceed 150;
	(e) Job value is 20 per cent. above UK national average;
	(f) Internationally mobile;
	(g) Company/higher education institution (HEI) collaboration that results in capital investment.

Overseas Trade: Burma

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to dissuade companies based in the UK from trading with Burma.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government discourage trade and investment with Burma. We offer no commercial services or support to UK companies wishing to trade with or invest in Burma. British companies who inquire about trade with Burma are informed of the grave political situation, the regime's atrocious record on human rights and the country's dire economic prospects.
	We have consistently supported measures that target those responsible for the regime's policies, rather than a blanket ban that would hurt the ordinary people of Burma. These include the EU's 'Common Position' on Burma, which imposes sanctions on Burma, including a ban on EU companies investing in certain Burmese state-owned companies.
	Current trade levels are very lowwith overall bilateral trade just over 30 million and with UK investment negligible.

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate has been made of the cost of implementing the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 for local shops if those supervising newspaper deliverers were included.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Earlier this year, the Department concluded a consultation on many aspects of the scheme including issues for business. Responses were received from the retail sector about under-16s working in shops. The Government published their formal response to that consultation on 30 May. The response made clear that shopkeepers and members of their staff will not be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) scheme in respect of any newspaper deliverers aged under the age of 16 whom they may employ. However adult staff will commit an offence if they frequently train, supervise, or instruct children under the age of 16 while barred; and employers or managers will commit an offence if they knowingly allow a barred adult employee to have such contact with children under the age of 16. The ISA scheme will not apply at all to adult shop workers' contact with 16 and 17-year-old workers.
	We will continue to work with business and other stakeholders on preparing regulations and implementing the Act. The Government's 2006 impact assessment for the ISA scheme found that costs for businesses, some of whom already vet staff supervising children, will be offset by savingsfor example on repeat work, since ISA registration will be portable from job to jobas well as by reduced risk of unsuitable employees.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Arm's Length Management Organisations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have transferred housing stock to arms length management organisations (ALMO); what the most recent Audit Commission rating of each such ALMO is; what permissions to borrow each has been granted; and what guidance her Department has issued to those ALMOs which have not achieved two stars.

Iain Wright: Local authorities do not transfer their housing stock to arms length management organisations (ALMOs). The Department makes available additional capital funding allocations to local authorities who have a high performing ALMO. That funding is in the form of supported borrowing through the housing revenue account subsidy system, and is in addition to other supported borrowing authorities may receive for housing investment. ALMOs receive their funding from their local authorities via a management fee. The following table lists the most recent Audit Commission inspection rating of each ALMO, and capital allocations made from the ALMO programme up to 2008-09.
	The Department has issued a guidance note, Policy on the arrangement for the re-inspection of ALMOs. Officials liaise regularly and provide advice as required with those ALMOs who have not achieved a two star inspection rating. ALMOs also receive support and guidance from their local authorities, the Audit Commission, the National Federation of ALMOs, and Government offices through the ALMO support network.
	
		
			  Local authorities with ALMOs: Inspection ratings and ALMO capital funding allocations 
			  Council  Star rating  Allocation to 2008-09 () 
			 Ashfield 3 (1) 55,320,000 
			 Barnet 2 (2) 68,981,400 
			 Barnsley 2 (2) 141,600,000 
			 Bassetlaw 2 (2) 16,500,000 
			 Blackpool 2 (1) 11,000,000 
			 Blyth Valley 2 (2) 48,358,000 
			 Bolton 3 (2) 157,560,000 
			 Brent 3 (1) 67,997,000 
			 Bury 2 (2) 24,490,000 
			 Carrick 3 (2) 23,060,000 
			 Cheltenham 3 (1) 31,440,000 
			 Colchester 2 (2) 35,710,000 
			 Derby 3 (1) 97,176,000 
			 Doncaster 2 (2) 93,200,000 
			 Ealing 2 (2) 132,548,000 
			 Easington 1 (3)  
			 Eastbourne 2 (2) 19,494,000 
			 Gateshead 2 (2) 161,205,980 
			 Gloucester 2 (2) 23,735,000 
			 Hackney 1 (2)  
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2 (1) 142,954,000 
			 Haringey 2 (2) 29,999,000 
			 Havering 1 (2)  
			 High Peak 2 (2) 9,306,000 
			 Hillingdon 2 (1) 59,300,000 
			 Hounslow 3 (1) 99,650,000 
			 Islington 2 (1) 120,823,200 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 (1) 43,439,000 
			 Kirklees 3 (2) 149,800,000 
			 Leeds 2 (2) 410,100,439 
			 Manchester (part) 2 (1) 92,988,000 
			 Newark and Sherwood 2 (2) 38,120,000 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2 (2) 255,220,000 
			 Newham 2 (2) 123,226,000 
			 Nottingham City 1 (3)  
			 Oldham 2 (2) 86,400,000 
			 Poole 3 (2) 30,080,120 
			 Rochdale 2 (2) 106,300,000 
			 Rotherham 2 (3) 157,500,000 
			 Sandwell 2 (2) 200,600,000 
			 Sheffield 3 (2) 376,057,060 
			 Slough 2 (2) 22,635,000 
			 Solihull 3 (1) 54,245,000 
			 South Lakeland 2 (2) 18,882,000 
			 South Tyneside 2 (2) Yet to be agreed 
			 Stockport 3 (1) 63,146,000 
			 Stockton on Tees 2 (2) 63,000,000 
			 Sutton 1 (2)  
			 Waltham Forest 2 (3) 49,349,750 
			 Warrington 3 (1) 30,199,680 
			 Wear Valley 2 (3) 11,000,000 
			 Westminster 3 (1) 74,000,000 
			 Wigan 2 (3) 137,300,000 
			 Wolverhampton 2 (2) 72,000,000 
			 (1 )Excellent prospects for improvement. (2 )Promising prospects for improvement. (3) Uncertain prospects for improvement.

Carbon Emissions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultations  (a) have taken place and  (b) are planned by her Department on the definition of zero carbon.

Caroline Flint: The consultation paper Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/buildinggreener
	was issued in December 2006. It sought views on the Government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development and on a proposed target that all new homes should be zero carbon from 2016. The results of this consultation fed into the Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement issued in July 2007 which set out the current definition of zero carbon homes
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/building-greener.pdf.
	In the 2008 Budget the Government announced that the 2016 definition of a zero carbon home would be set by the end of 2008, following a forthcoming consultation in the summer. In addition, the Budget also announced the Government's ambition for new non-domestic buildings to be zero carbon from 2019. We intend to consult on this later this year.

Community Relations: Extremism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to tackle extremism in local communities.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government is responsible for promoting cohesion in local communities, including tackling extremism of all kinds. The Department is also responsible for the communities-based element of the cross-Government strategy to prevent violent extremism, part of the wider Counter-terrorism strategy, as set out in the Delivery Plan launched on 3 June 2008.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have chosen as their preferred option for housing stock  (a) retention,  (b) transfer,  (c) an arm's length management organisation,  (d) a private finance initiative and  (e) a mix of these options.

Iain Wright: The information requested has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council houses there are in each local authority area; and what estimate she has made of  (a) the cost of transferring these houses to registered social landlords and  (b) the cost of gap funding for such transfers.

Iain Wright: A table listing the number of council homes in each local authority that currently has council housing, as at 1 April 2007, including homes owned by arms length management organisations (ALMOs) has been placed in the Library of the House.
	No estimates have been made of the possible costs of transferring these homes to registered social landlords.

Council Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 19th April 2004,  Official Report, columns 354-5W, on management and maintenance allowance, by  (a) how many percentage points and  (b) how much the average 2001-02 management and maintenance allowance would have had to increase by 2008-09 to reach the level of the need to spend on management and maintenance indicated by the findings in Estimate of the Need to Spend on Maintenance and Management in Local Authority Housing, published in June 2003.

Iain Wright: We have not carried out an uprating of the BRE analysis and therefore currently have no comparable evidence of the size of the present gap. The Review of Council Housing Finance, launched on 10 March, is looking at what it currently costs to run council housing.

Council Tax: Armed Forces

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the merits of establishing a statutory council tax discount for service personnel; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether she plans to establish a statutory council tax discount for service personnel; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: From 1 April 2008, all service personnel deployed overseas on specified operations have been entitled to payment under the MOD's Council Tax Relief Scheme, which is worth 142 over a six-month tour. There are no plans to establish a statutory discount.

Eco Towns

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role  (a) the restructured regional development agencies and  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency will play in the planning process for the (i) first and (ii) second wave of eco-town developments.

Caroline Flint: Some eco-town proposals relate to locations which are already the subject of consideration in a current regional spatial strategy (RSS) process, and we expect the RSS reviews announced in the Housing Green Paper (which depending on the region will be prepared between now and 2011) to test the longer term issues that arise from the eco-town proposals-such as the ultimate size of new settlements. Regional development agencies will be responsible for the future preparation of RSS reviews.
	We expect that the Homes and Communities Agency will be able to take a leadership role in helping to deliver some of the eco-towns, with public and private partners, as English Partnerships is doing at Northstowe, an early prototype eco-town in Cambridgeshire. When the Homes and Communities Agency is established we would expect it to play a major role in supporting local authorities, and work with bidders to review and refine detailed proposals as they are developed.
	There are no current proposals to hold another round of the eco-towns process.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 663W, on eco-towns, in which of the shortlisted sites her Department has sold or otherwise disposed of land in the last 10 years under arrangements whereby her Department would benefit from a future sale of the land;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the sale price  (a) before and  (b) after shortlisting of (i) the site owned by English Partnerships and (ii) sites sold by her Department and its predecessors in the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: On information currently available, none of the 13 eco-town locations, which have been shortlisted for public consultation and further assessment are on land previously occupied or sold by my Department and its predecessors and English Partnerships in the last 10 years.
	In respect of the Stretton Hall site owned by English Partnerships, which I referred to in my answer to the hon. Member on 1 May. The land is not currently allocated for development in regional or local plans, but English Partnerships has begun working with the regional body and the local authority to help revise their planning documents. This will of course take some time and values could change significantly from its current use to a site, which is potentially part of a wider area master plan, with planning consent, plus all the necessary planned infrastructure, employment space and social facilities.

Eco-Towns: Planning Permission

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the developers for the 15 shortlisted eco-town locations will be required to provide  (a) a concept statement and  (b) an environmental impact statement.

Caroline Flint: The promoters of eco-town locations are currently providing more detailed specification of their proposals as part of the further assessment that Government are carrying out of financial, transport and sustainability aspects of the proposals. This will include all the main features of each scheme. In addition, like any proposed development, eco-towns will need to be the subject of a planning application. Each application must be decided on its merits and the local planning authority will need to take into account all the impacts of the proposals. In order for this to happen developers will need to provide full details of their Environment Statement, and address issues such as design, the impact of the proposed development on the landscape and neighbourhood, the transport system, public services, infrastructure and benefits to the community.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much food waste her Department generated in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government generated the following amount of food waste during the last two years:
	
		
			   Tonnes 
			 2006-07 21.6 
			 2007-08 19.1 
		
	
	Since 2006, the Department has sent all of its separated food waste to a composting facility rather than to landfill.
	No data are held prior to 2006-07 and nor are any data available for the Department's executive agencies.

Home Information Packs

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that  (a) the contents of home information packs are accurate and  (b) the providers of home information packs have satisfactory arrangements for dealing with complaints and redress.

Caroline Flint: Documents contained within home information packs (HIPs) should comply with the standards set out in regulations. The HIP Code also sets out minimum standards which pack providers have to meetmost pack providers subscribe to this code. The code is administered by the Property Codes Compliance Board, an independent regulator whose role is to ensure that private organisations providing property search reports and home information packs are compliant. Most pack provider companies subscribe to the HIP code and estate agents and conveyancers involved in pack provision are subject to additional compulsory redress arrangements.

Home Information Packs

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether, following the expiration of the current transitional arrangements, homes will not be able to be marketed for sale without a full home information pack.

Caroline Flint: We remain committed to ensuring that consumers see and can use key information early in the process of buying and selling a home. The extension of temporary provisions for first day marketing and leasehold marketing I announced to the House on 8 May bring all temporary provisions within the same time scale which should allow us to finalise the implementation of home information packs from 31 December 2008.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to pages 26 to 27 of her Department's Annual Report for 2008, what methodology was used to determine the proportion of consumers who do not see home information packs; and what analysis her Department has undertaken to establish why more consumers do not see home information packs.

Caroline Flint: The proportion of consumers who did not see their home information pack (HIP), and the reasons behind this, were based on a survey of buyers and sellers who took part in our area trials prior to the national launch of HIPs. The report also explained the main reasons why more consumers did not see the HIP. Further details can be found from the research report at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/hiptrialareas.pdf

Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which recommendations of the 2005 Office of Fair Trading market study report on local searches have been implemented; which recommendations have yet to be implemented; and what the timetable is for implementation.

Caroline Flint: The only outstanding Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recommendations are those relating to the 'availability of unrefined information'. To address these, the Department published good practice access guidance and a consultation paper on future local authority charges for property searches on 18 January 2008. The consultation has now closed and we are analysing the responses and considering the next steps. Together these two initiatives will complete implementation of the OFT's recommendations.

Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of local authorities did not provide access to records required to complete a local search report in the latest period for which figures are available; and what effect this is having on competition and choice in the local searches market.

Caroline Flint: Formal data is not held by the Department. However, a recent stakeholder survey of local authorities (LAs) indicated that on 1 April 2008, just over 50 per cent. were providing open access to personal searchers to all the records required to complete a local search report. The rest provide access to the majority of the necessary records.

Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have directly participated in the  (a) Social HomeBuy,  (b) New Build HomeBuy and  (c) Open Market HomeBuy schemes.

Caroline Flint: Social HomeBuy is a voluntary scheme which provides new opportunities for social tenants who do not have a right to buy or right to acquire or who cannot afford to purchase outright to buy a share of their rented home at a discount.
	To-date 10 local authorities have participated in the pilot scheme. These are:
	London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth; Harlow and Waveney district councils.
	No local authorities have directly participated in the new build and open market homebuy schemes, which are usually provided by registered social landlords.

Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the expected change in  (a) numbers of new houses built and  (b) house prices in the next 12 months.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not publish forecasts for house prices or house-building. However many external commentators are now expecting house prices to fall in 2008 by 5 to 10 per cent. Housing starts in 2007-08 were 10 per cent. lower than in 2006-07 and this is likely to be reflected in lower levels of housing completions during 2008-09.

Housing: Energy

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are being taken to assist home owners to carry out energy efficiency improvements recommended in energy performance certificates.

Caroline Flint: The Government have put in place a number of programmes to assist home owners to carry out energy efficiency improvements recommended in their energy performance certificates, or which they have identified for themselves. For example, in April, the Government launched the carbon emissions reduction target, under which the energy companies collectively will be investing around 1 billion per annum for the next three years on energy efficiency measures. A new Act on CO2 helpline, run by the Energy Saving Trust was also launched in April, with the support of 26 million Government funding. This will provide home owners with advice on energy efficiency improvements they can make. To facilitate this, the Government will shortly be consulting on giving the Energy Saving Trust access to data from energy performance certificates, so that the Trust can identify the least energy efficient homes and target them with offers of help.

Housing: Low Incomes

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many applications have been made under the My Choice Home Buy Scheme since its inception;
	(2)  how many property sales have been completed under the My Choice Home Buy Scheme since its inception;
	(3)  whether funds have been available for completions under the My Choice Home Buy Scheme since 1st April 2008.

Caroline Flint: The Housing Corporation launched two new HomeBuy products on 1 April including MyChoiceHomeBuy, and funds have been available through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme since 1 April. No applications or completions have been made since the scheme was launched, but the new products have generated a lot of interest. Formal applications are not made until someone has found a property. We would expect completions to take place between three to six months as with any house purchase. In the meantime, applications and completions continue from the 2006 to 2008 HomeBuy programme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the number of households which will participate in each of the three HomeBuy programmes in 2008-09.

Caroline Flint: We currently estimate that the total number of households assisted through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme Open Market HomeBuy scheme in 2008-09 will be 4,600. For New Build HomeBuy, our current estimate of households to be assisted through this scheme is around 17,000 in 2008-09. Both of these estimates are subject to market forces.
	We have not set individual targets for Open Market HomeBuy or NewBuild HomeBuy to ensure flexibility within the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11. Social HomeBuy is a demand-led product for social tenants and as such no targets are associated with this programme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the 200 million announced on 14 May 2008 to purchase new properties from house builders is additional housing expenditure or will replace existing Housing Corporation spending on affordable housing.

Caroline Flint: The 200 million announced on 14 May will be used by the Housing Corporation to fund RSLs and others to purchase new properties from house builders. It is part of the unallocated grant funding for the current financial year from within the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme budget for 2008-11.
	We are allowing the Housing Corporation flexibility to take advantage of opportunities offered by the current housing market to fund RSLs and others to buy unsold stock from developers at competitive rates with a view to provision of either social rent or low cost home ownership. This will enable RSLs and others to take advantage of the competitive rates offered by the current market as well as helping developers at a challenging time in the new build market.

Housing: Regeneration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) homes have been built and  (b) homes have been demolished with Pathfinder support in each housing market renewal Pathfinder area in each year up to 31st March 2008; and how much was spent in each Pathfinder area on such activities in each year.

Iain Wright: The requested data is in the following table:
	
		
			New Build 
			   Total HMR funding 2002 to 2008 (m)  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 94.7 27 47 62 52 36 224 
			 East Lancashire 167.5 0 0 0 16 0 16 
			 Hull and East Riding 52.6 0 0 0 44 100 144 
			 Manchester Salford 223.7 0 0 0 127 473 600 
			 Merseyside 190.3 0 6 11 321 285 623 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 133.5 17 9 11 44 124 205 
			 North Staffordshire 100.4 0 0 0 0 52 52 
			 Oldham Rochdale 121.7 0 0 0 106 165 271 
			 South Yorkshire 160.6 0 0 2 176 1,178 1,356 
			 Totals 1,245.0 44 62 86 886 2,413 3,491 
		
	
	
		
			   Demolitions 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 311 71 306 60 207 955 
			 East Lancashire 227 311 331 309 272 1,450 
			 Hull and East Riding 0 0 147 92 92 331 
			 Manchester Salford 216 571 454 755 311 2,307 
			 Merseyside| 199 110 185 256 322 1,072 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 387 409 506 258 289 1,849 
			 North Staffordshire 104 234 62 215 282 897 
			 Oldham Rochdale 95 78 164 164 148 649 
			 South Yorkshire 398 1,105 627 525 519 3,174 
			 Totals 1,937 2,889 2,782 2,634 2,442 12,684

Housing: Regeneration

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been  (a) acquired,  (b) demolished,  (c) refurbished and  (d) built in each of the housing renewal pathfinder areas since 31 December 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Data on acquisitions, demolitions, refurbishments and new build is collected on an annual basis. Totals for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   New build  Repairs, improvements and refurbishments  Demolitions  Acquisitions 
			   2006-07  2007-08  Total  2006-07  2007-08  Total  2006-07  2007-08  Total  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 52 36 88 518 1,498 2,016 60 207 267 70 146 216 
			 East Lancashire 16 0 16 336 506 842 309 272 581 454 384 838 
			 Hull and East Riding 44 100 144 20 189 209 92 92 184 151 221 372 
			 Manchester Salford 127 473 600 2,305 512 2,817 755 311 1,066 601 640 1,241 
			 Merseyside 321 285 606 873 598 1,471 256 322 578 422 520 942 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 44 124 168 1,692 1,623 3,315 258 289 547 122 175 297 
			 North Staffordshire 0 52 52 846 2,544 3,390 215 282 497 300 466 766 
			 Oldham Rochdale 106 165 271 278 500 778 164 148 312 216 153 369 
			 South Yorkshire 176 1,178 1,354 1,751 3,478 5,229 525 519 1,044 384 751 1,135 
			 Total 886 2,413 3,299 8,619 11,448 20,067 2,634 2,442 5,076 2,720 3,456 6,176

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 974-5W, on the local authority business growth incentives (LABGI) scheme, how much will be provided to local authorities under the LABGI scheme in 2011-12;
	(2)  pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 23 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2107W, on non-domestic rates, how much was provided to local authorities under the local authority business growth incentives scheme in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08;

John Healey: To date, local authorities in England have received 149,704,135 for 2005-06 and 384,751,482 for 2006-07 under the three-year local authority business growth incentives scheme.
	I announced provisional additional payments of 13,509,463 for 2005-06 and 37,348,549 for 2006-07, as well as provisional allocations of 246,075,319 for 2007- 08, on 2 April. We gave local authorities a period to raise queries on these provisional allocations, finishing on 16 May. I intend to announce the final allocations as soon as possible.
	Decisions on public spending in 2011-12 will be made as part of the next spending review.

Planning Permission

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning decisions have been taken  (a) by planning officers under delegated powers and  (b) by planning committees in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The numbers of planning applications decided by planning officers under delegated powers and by planning committees are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Planning officers  Planning committees 
			 1997-98 265,700 195,800 
			 1998-99 315,200 151,100 
			 1999-2000 342,900 136,600 
			 2000-01 376,600 121,300 
			 2001-02 416,500 117,600 
			 2002-03 487,700 97,900 
			 2003-04 539,900 84,900 
			 2004-05 572,100 73,200 
			 2005-06 531,800 66,900 
			 2006-07 529,900 57,700 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Development Control Statistics returns

Planning Permission

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many outstanding  (a) enforcement notices and  (b) planning appeals there are in each region; and how many there were in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information on the number of enforcement notices which are outstanding in each region and how many have been issued is not held centrally.
	Information on how many planning appeals there are in each region and on how many there were in each year since 2000-01 (the earliest date for which figures are available) can be found at:
	http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/statistics/index.htm

Planning Permission: Gardens

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to prevent front and back gardens from being over-developed in the form of blocks of flats replacing gardens.

Caroline Flint: Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing (PPS3) expects local planning authorities and regions to take a positive, plan-led approach to providing the right quantity of housing to address need and demand in their areas, and the right quality and mix of housing for their communities, based on robust evidence based approach. This is why PPS3 asks local planning authorities to carry out strategic housing market assessments, which should then inform the planning process. PPS3 also gives local planning authorities the responsibility for deciding the most suitable locations for housing that they wish to see in their area and the ability to put in place local plan policies to address concerns around development on garden land in areas where it is a problem.
	Local planning authorities should include appropriate policies in their local plans which will help deliver the amount of housing they need and decide where that housing should be located. It is for them to determine individual planning applications such as those for the development of flats on existing residential land, including considering whether it is a suitable location for such development, in accordance with their local plans, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Political Extremism

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition of political extremism is, as referred to in the guidance issued to local authorities on community cohesion contingency planning and tension monitoring.

Parmjit Dhanda: 'Guidance for Local Authorities on Community Cohesion Contingency Planning and Tension Monitoring', published last month, reflects the reality that there are individuals and organisations in society, whose activities, motivated by extremist views, may have a negative impact on local community relations. We do not define political extremism as these issues need to be properly understood at the local level.

Regional Planning and Development: Eco-Towns

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of proposals for eco-towns in the North West of England on the rate of investment in the East and South East Leeds regeneration project; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the proposals for eco-towns in Yorkshire and Humber rather than the North West. As set out in the consultation documentEco-townsLiving a greener future we are undertaking further reviews of sites in Leeds city region. As part of the viability of a scheme it would need to be assessed against the eco-towns criteria, which includes how an eco-town can harness the employment potential of local areas.

Thames Gateway Bridge

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department have had with Transport for London on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge.

Caroline Flint: There have been no meetings at ministerial or official level with Transport for London on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge since the mayoral elections.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airguns

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 601W, on airguns, if she will breakdown the figures by  (a) age of the victim,  (b) age of the perpetrator and  (c) police force area.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 May 2008
	 Available data, relating to age of the victim and police force area, are shown in the following tables. Information about suspects is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Table A: Offences involving air weapons and BB guns/soft air weapons resulting in injury, by age of victim: England and Wales, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03( 1)  2003-04  2004-05( 2)  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Age of victim  Air weapons( 3)  BB guns/soft air weapons( 4)  Air weapons( 3)  BB guns/soft air weapons( 4)  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons 
			 Under 5 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 9 22 5 13 2 11 
			 5 and under 11 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 92 475 64 347 48 213 
			 11 and under 16 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 403 768 297 639 229 397 
			 16 and under 21 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 281 138 210 146 217 125 
			 21 and under 30 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 185 94 199 92 163 67 
			 30 and under 50 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 330 169 271 144 246 110 
			 50 and under 70 years n/a n/a n/a n/a 136 79 92 62 109 50 
			 70 years and over n/a n/a n/a n/a 15 8 12 9 15 7 
			 Unknown/not recorded n/a n/a n/a n/a 47 91 32 82 25 33 
			 Total 2,377 n/a 2,395 n/a 1,498 1,844 1,182 1,534 1,054 1,013 
			 n/a = Not available (1) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (2) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons, introduced on 1 April 2004, may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons. (3) The age of victims has been collected only since 1 April 2004. (4) Data for BB guns/soft air weapons have been separately collected only since 1 April 2004. Prior to that they were included within the 'imitation weapons' total. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Offences involving air weapons and BB guns/soft air weapons resulting in injury, by police force area: England and Wales, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03( 1)  2003-04  2004-05( 2)  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Police force area  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons( 3)  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons( 3)  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons  Air weapons  BB guns/soft air weapons 
			 Avon and Somerset 79 n/a 68 n/a 37 71 18 63 23 37 
			 Bedfordshire 28 n/a 16 n/a 12 23 7 14 1 12 
			 Cambridgeshire 24 n/a 10 n/a 9 11 4 6 4 3 
			 Cheshire 39 n/a 24 n/a 27 13 16 18 4 9 
			 Cleveland 28 n/a 42 n/a 13 11 15 24 12 9 
			 Cumbria 7 n/a 10 n/a 7 8 3 3 5 5 
			 Derbyshire 98 n/a 111 n/a 30 57 26 38 14 20 
			 Devon and Cornwall 84 n/a 83 n/a 37 76 24 50 16 39 
			 Dorset 25 n/a 6 n/a 6 18 14 7 4 6 
			 Durham 3 n/a 4 n/a 8 10 10 7 5 8 
			 Dyfed Powys 9 n/a 7 n/a 14 10 23 5 10 5 
			 Essex 119 n/a 122 n/a 31 58 48 63 45 38 
			 Gloucestershire 15 n/a 14 n/a 15 36 15 21 7 20 
			 Gtr. Manchester 213 n/a 136 n/a 135 123 67 100 72 62 
			 Gwent 56 n/a 28 n/a 30 45 18 21 11 5 
			 Hampshire 24 n/a 49 n/a 30 40 24 38 21 38 
			 Hertfordshire 25 n/a 24 n/a 27 41 21 30 15 16 
			 Humberside 64 n/a 63 n/a 18 39 9 23 16 14 
			 Kent 62 n/a 56 n/a 52 31 42 36 55 29 
			 Lancashire 18 n/a 19 n/a 43 114 27 108 47 57 
			 Leicestershire 21 n/a 32 n/a 17 16 4 13 21 15 
			 Lincolnshire 42 n/a 60 n/a 27 28 4 26 5 13 
			 London City of 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 130 n/a 98 n/a 74 65 93 55 85 29 
			 Metropolitan 303 n/a 332 n/a 226 202 176 166 139 92 
			 Norfolk 13 n/a 3 n/a 2 5 5 7 4 4 
			 North Wales 19 n/a 37 n/a 16 36 17 39 20 43 
			 North Yorkshire 11 n/a 11 n/a 2 3 3 2 3 2 
			 Northamptonshire 26 n/a 24 n/a 10 28 0 21 10 12 
			 Northumbria 53 n/a 44 n/a 45 57 21 28 28 14 
			 Nottinghamshire 125 n/a 82 n/a 46 46 46 38 44 12 
			 South Wales 40 n/a 24 n/a 31 16 39 20 24 19 
			 South Yorkshire 77 n/a 71 n/a 63 42 47 66 46 37 
			 Staffordshire 87 n/a 65 n/a 25 50 8 47 19 16 
			 Suffolk 21 n/a 34 n/a 8 13 8 18 11 6 
			 Surrey 17 n/a 24 n/a 17 13 16 15 11 12 
			 Sussex 59 n/a 56 n/a 22 15 38 6 17 18 
			 Thames Valley 55 n/a 43 n/a 47 81 23 65 34 45 
			 Warwickshire 14 n/a 14 n/a 10 18 5 13 6 14 
			 West Mercia 87 n/a 70 n/a 38 50 24 27 27 8 
			 West Midlands 2 n/a 178 n/a 89 117 94 102 64 92 
			 West Yorkshire 141 n/a 194 n/a 99 81 79 68 47 55 
			 Wiltshire 14 n/a 7 n/a 3 27 1 17 2 23 
			
			 Total 2,377 n/a 2,395 n/a 1,498 1,844 1,182 1,534 1,054 1,013 
			 n/a = Not available (1) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (2) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons, introduced on 1 April 2004, may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons. (3) Data for BB guns/soft air weapons have been separately collected only since 1 April 2004. Prior to that they were included within the 'imitation weapons' total.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the proportion of occurrences of alcohol-related disorders that may be attributed to the sale by  (a) supermarkets and off licences and  (b) pubs and other licensed premises of alcohol to under 18 year olds.

Jacqui Smith: The arrests collection held by the Ministry of Justice covers persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only. Summary offences of 'being drunk and disorderly' are non-notifiable and as a result are not covered by the collection.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued in Cheshire since 2004 for  (a) being drunk and disorderly in a public place,  (b) selling alcohol to a person who is drunk,  (c) supplying alcohol to a person under 18 years old,  (d) buying or attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under 18 years old,  (e) being drunk on a highway,  (f) consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 years old,  (g) allowing the consumption of alcohol by a person who is under 18 years old on relevant premises and  (h) buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18 years old.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued in Cheshire police force area is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for selected offences, Cheshire police force area 2004-06( 1) 
			  Offence description  2004  2005  2006 
			 (a) Being drunk and disorderly In a public place. 409 190 125 
			 (b) Selling alcohol to a person who is drunk(2). n/a (4) (4) 
			 (c) Supplying alcohol to a person under 18 years old(3). (4) 7 1 
			 (d) Buying or attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under 18 years old. 2 4 3 
			 (e) Being drunk in a highway. 13 13 4 
			 (f) Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 years old(3). (4) (4) (4) 
			 (g) Allowing the consumption of alcohol by a person who is under 18 years old on relevant premises(3) (4) 1 (4) 
			 (h) Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18 years old. n/a (4) 4 
			 n/a = Not applicable (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) Offences added to the PND scheme on the 1 April 2005. (3) Offences added to the PND scheme on the 1 November 2004. (4) Nil.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which countries the UK imported non-human primates for the purposes of scientific research in the last 12 months.

Meg Hillier: Non-human primates for the purpose of scientific research were imported from the following countries during the last 12 months.
	China;
	Vietnam;
	Mauritius;
	Israel; and
	Netherlands.

Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) drug dealers,  (b) people dealing in counterfeit currency and  (c) people dealing in counterfeit goods in England and Wales.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 May 2008
	Recently published Home Office figures estimate that there may be around 3,300 drug importers and wholesalers operating in the UK market at any time. The Home Office has made no estimates for dealers in counterfeit currency or counterfeit goods.

Firearms

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of illegal firearms in England and Wales.

Jacqui Smith: There is currently no reliable method of assessing how many illegal firearms are held. Any estimate is unverifiable and likely to be misleading.

Firearms

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) firearms,  (b) imitation firearms and  (c) knives were seized by officers (i) on the street, (ii) from vehicles, (iii) from residential properties and (iv) from other properties in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The National Ballistics Intelligence Database, which is currently being implemented, will in future provide improved information on firearms seized by police in England and Wales.

Firearms: Crime

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many women were charged with firearms offences in each police force area in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people under the age of  (a) 30,  (b) 21,  (c) 18 and  (d) 16 years were charged with firearms offences in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The requested data are not available centrally.

Genetics: Cross Border Cooperation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the written ministerial statement of 27 June 2007,  Official Report, column 32WS, on the Justice and Home Affairs Council, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of providing DNA data to European partners under Prm Treaty obligations.

Jacqui Smith: The UK is not a party to the Prm Treaty but the Government have agreed, within the Justice and Home Affairs Council, a Council Decision on the sharing of DMA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. This is awaiting adoption. In negotiating that measure, the Government estimated the start up costs for UK implementation to be 31 million including running costs estimated to be 2.5 million for the first year.

Identity Cards: Aviation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from trade unions on the issue of identity cards to airside staff.

Meg Hillier: Consultation is under way on the proposal to start issuing identity cards to people working at airports as set out in the National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan published on 6 March 2008. As part of this consultation, discussions are continuing with trade unions whose members work airside.

Identity Cards: Finance

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the likely cost to local authorities for  (a) IT equipment,  (b) staff training and  (c) other costs required for the use of national identity cards for the Government's aims of reducing (i) council tax, (ii) voter registration and (iii) other frauds; and whether these costs are planned to be met by central Government.

Meg Hillier: Local authorities already require individuals to provide proof of identity in order to access many services. Identity cards will be more convenient and secure than the array of documents that are currently used to prove identity, thus making the process more efficient from the very beginning.
	Linked to the National Identity Register, identity cards will provide a range of levels of identity verification, the majority of which will be a basic visual check of the card and not all transactions will require a check against the register.
	It will be the responsibility of local authorities to decide what level of identity verification they require and if they wish to invest in equipment, such as card readers, or identity verification services provided by the Identity and Passport Service.

Imitation Guns

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many injuries were caused by each type of imitation firearm in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of crimes recorded in England and Wales in which imitation firearms caused injury, by being fired or used as a blunt instrument from 2002-03 up to and including 2006-07 are shown in the following table.
	Breakdowns by type of weapon for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are not available centrally.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded in which imitation firearms were used( 1)  and caused injury, by weapon type: England and Wales, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Imitation weapon type( 2)  2002/03( 3)  2003/04  2004/05( 4)  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Imitation handgun n/a n/a 47 41 36 
			 BB gun/soft air weapon n/a n/a 1,844 1,534 1,013 
			 Deactivated firearm n/a n/a nil 2 nil 
			 Blank firer n/a n/a 9 4 5 
			 Other imitation n/a n/a 17 27 14 
			 Total 655 816 1,917 1,608 1,068 
			 n/a = not available (1) By being fired or used as a blunt instrument. (2) Information on type of imitation firearm has been collected centrally only since April 2004. (3) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (4) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on 1 April 2004 may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons.

National Identity Register

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how individuals will be able to  (a) check whether information about them saved on the National Identity Register, including their audit log, is accurate and  (b) update their records held on the National Identity Register;
	(2)  in what circumstances  (a) addresses and  (b) other information on the National Identity Register may be made available to databases held by other Government Departments or agencies;
	(3)  by what means an individual's identity will be verified using the National Identity Register.

Meg Hillier: Individuals will be able to contact the Identity and Passport Service in order to check that their National Identity Register record is up to date and amend it as necessary. They will also be able to apply for a copy of the information held about them on the register, including the audit record, through a subject access request under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The Identity Cards Act 2006 provides that public authorities listed in the Act and to be specified in secondary legislation or, with the individual's consent, private organisations may be provided with information from the National Identity Register to verify an individual's identity. The exact way in which such identity verification services will be provided has yet to be finalised.

Passports: Interviews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the average cost of a face-to-face passport interview has been;
	(2)  how many face-to-face passport interviews have been conducted since the procedure was introduced.

Jacqui Smith: The average cost, excluding depreciation is about 74 per interview. Once the interview network is complete and operating at full capacity, I would be in a position to provide detail on numbers of customers interviewed. These costs are spread across all passport customers rather than being recovered solely from first time adult applicants.
	During the past 12 months there has been a gradual build-up in capacity of the interview office network. The following shows the number of interviews conducted during this period of roll-out of the new capability:
	
		
			  Interview office  Passport interviews completed 
			 Aberdeen 455 
			 Aberystwyth 167 
			 Andover 390 
			 Armagh 227 
			 South Molton 186 
			 Belfast 1,789 
			 Berwick on Tweed 97 
			 Birmingham 6,901 
			 Blackburn 1,489 
			 Sleaford 221 
			 Bournemouth 774 
			 Bristol 1,309 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 435 
			 Redruth 304 
			 Carlisle 417 
			 Chelmsford 1,752 
			 Cheltenham 954 
			 Coleraine 384 
			 Crawley 1,157 
			 Derby 1,867 
			 Dover 537 
			 Dumfries 172 
			 Dundee 518 
			 Edinburgh 1,138 
			 Exeter 718 
			 Selkirk 83 
			 Glasgow 3,659 
			 Brighton 0 
			 Inverness 237 
			 Ipswich 821 
			 Kendal 420 
			 Kings Lynn 294 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 1,056 
			 Leeds 4,010 
			 Leicester 1,309 
			 Lincoln 993 
			 Liverpool 3,471 
			 London 24,633 
			 Luton 1,789 
			 Maidstone 1,205 
			 Manchester 5,829 
			 Middlesbrough 1,603 
			 Newcastle 3,398 
			 Newport 3,343 
			 Newport IOW 207 
			 Ripon 159 
			 Northampton 1,062 
			 Norwich 732 
			 Oban 0 
			 Omagh 181 
			 Oxford 664 
			 Peterborough 1,873 
			 Plymouth 821 
			 Portsmouth 1,638 
			 Reading 1,778 
			 Scarborough 256 
			 Sheffield 3,229 
			 Shrewsbury 647 
			 St. Austell 236 
			 Stirling 433 
			 Stoke on Trent 1,455 
			 Swansea 1,098 
			 Swindon 517 
			 Warwick 864 
			 Wick 65 
			 Wrexham 733 
			 Yeovil 637 
			 York 430

Religious Freedom: Islam

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of UK citizens receiving police protection in England and Wales as a result of converting from the Islamic faith.

Vernon Coaker: Managing risk of harm in individual cases is an operational matter for the police.

Touting: Tickets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 479W, on touting: tickets, if she will place a copy of the report from the UK football policing unit in the Library.

Vernon Coaker: This was an operational police report produced for internal use only and it would not be appropriate for it to be placed in the Library. However the key information other than sensitive operation detail was included in a letter to the hon. Member from the Director of the UK Football Policing Unit. I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 202188, tabled by the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey on 23 April 2008, on parking tickets issued by community support officers.

Vernon Coaker: I replied to the hon. Member on 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 385W.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Leader of the House whether she has issued guidance to staff in her Office to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: Yes. All staff, contractors and security guards are instructed to switch off PCs and monitors when not in use. This is part of a wider and continuing sustainable development programme, which also includes night time energy audits of buildings.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Leader of the House how much food waste her Office generated in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: It is the policy of the Office to the Leader of the House of Commons not to waste food.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what contracts have been awarded to businesses based in the London borough of Bexley through the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Tessa Jowell: To date, the Olympic Delivery Authority has awarded four contracts to businesses registered in the London borough of Bexley; these have been for elevators and moving stairways, local trucking, electric lamps and travel agencies services.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Australia and Canada: Royal Visits

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs the Government met for each official visit made by  (a) Her Majesty the Queen and  (b) other members of the Royal Family to (i) Australia and (ii) Canada in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: Costs for official visits by Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family to Australia and Canada are met by the respective Governments of those countries.

Chevening

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chevening Trust Deed.

Meg Munn: The administration of the Chevening Estate is not governed by a deed of trust, but by the Chevening Estate Acts of 1959 and 1987.

Chevening Scholarships Programme

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the selection criteria used for Chevening Scholarships tenable in 2008-09; and how these criteria differ from those which were applied in the allocation of Commonwealth Scholarships.

Jim Murphy: A copy of the selection criteria for Chevening scholarships will be placed in the Library of the House. The essential difference is that the key criterion for eligibility for Chevening scholarships is the greatest potential to be a future leader with the capacity to benefit the UK, whereas the criteria for Commonwealth scholarships include a mixture of academic merit, leadership potential and the quality of the study plan.

Commonwealth Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the changes in funding for Commonwealth scholarships announced on 23 March 2008.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 366W, and to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) on 8 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1103W.

Commonwealth Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from each country received funding under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in each of the last five years.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 9 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1246-47W.

Departmental Manpower

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in his Department were aged  (a) 20 to 30,  (b) 31 to 40,  (c) 41 to 50,  (d) 51 to 60 and  (e) over 60 years, in the last period for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The following table lists the number of UK civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO services at 1 April 2008 in each of the age groups specified:
	
		
			  Age band (years)  Number of staff 
			 20-30 1,115 
			 31-40 1,916 
			 41-50 1,733 
			 51-60 972 
			 Over 60 133 
			 Total 5,869

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the refreshed E3+3 proposals of 6th June 2006 on Iran's nuclear programme to be formally presented to the government of Iran; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are still waiting for the Iranians to respond to Javier Solana with a date for him to meet Foreign Minister Mottaki in Tehran in order to present our refreshed offer to the Government of Iran. We have made clear that we want this meeting to take place as soon as possible.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Iranian compliance with efforts by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to verify Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. ElBaradei, issued a report on Iran's nuclear activities on 26 May. The report says that Iran has failed to suspend enrichment-related activities, has made no progress on the transparency measures the UN Security Council and the IAEA have called for and has failed to answer the IAEA's questions relating to studies with a possible military dimension. It notes that the alleged studies are a matter of serious concern and that clarification of these is critical to an assessment of the nature of Iran's past and present nuclear programme. We have called on Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA, fulfil its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and to implement the additional protocol.

Iraq: Diplomatic Service

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of the UK diplomatic presence in Iraq was in each year from 1998 to 2007.

Kim Howells: The cost of the UK diplomatic presence in Iraq each year from 1998 to 2007 was as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 1998 to 2001 (1) 
			 2001-2002 (2)0.1 
			 2002-2003 (2)0.4 
			 2003-2004 5.5 
			 2004-2005 (3)45.5 
			 2005-2006 (3)54.7 
			 2006-2007 (3)88.6 
			 2007-2008 (3)49.7 
			 (1) Data on costs prior to 2001 are not held in a format that would enable us to answer the question without incurring disproportionate cost. (2) Iraq costs for 2001-02 and 2002-03 are relatively small because the UK was not represented in Baghdad at the time, our embassy having closed in January 1991. (3) Iraq costs from 2004-05 to 2007-08 include the costs of supporting other Government Departments for which the FCO is reimbursed.  Notes: 1. The figures listed include all direct and indirect Post expenditure, including money spent by the centre on behalf of Posts, including: Administrative costs; Staff costs (UK based and locally engaged); and Programme costs (for example, the Global Opportunities Fund and the Global Conflict Prevention Pool). 2. The figures listed do not include the following: A share of central Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) overhead; Depreciation; Cost of Capital; A share of impairment costs; and Post income (Visa, Consular and other receipts).  Source: FCO's Expenditure Allocation Report which shows a detailed breakdown of the costs of all FCO posts.

Japan: Cereals

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the  (a) Government of Japan and  (b) US Administration on releasing the stores of US grain held in Japan.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote on 8 April to Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, as Chair of the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations (G8), to highlight the impact of rising food prices and asked that this issue be put on the agenda of the G8 summit. Prime Minister Fukuda has agreed to do so and has written to the UN Secretary-General and to the President of the World Bank on the issue.
	Our officials have and will continue to work with the Japanese and US Governments on the issues raised in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's letter, including on Japanese plans relating to its strategic rice reserve.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he obtained from his recent review of his Department's funded scholarships enabling valid comparisons to be made of the respective past records of Chevening and his Department's funded Commonwealth scholarships in producing future leaders in the countries where they both operate; and if he will publish this evidence.

Jim Murphy: There are eminent alumni both of the Chevening scholarship scheme and of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) funded Commonwealth scholarships in the countries in which both schemes operate, but the FCO has not made comparisons between them.

Pakistan: Terrorism

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1815W, on Pakistan: terrorism, 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on dealing with allegations of mistreatment made by British nationals in Pakistani custody; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether any of the six detainees are still in Pakistani detention;
	(3)  in how many of the six cases the detainees were visited by other British officials;
	(4)  whether allegations of mistreatment other than those made to UK officials were taken into account in providing the Answer;
	(5)  for what reasons consular access was not sought in each of the six cases.

Kim Howells: The Government take allegations of mistreatment very seriously. Where allegations of mistreatment are made by British nationals in Pakistani custody or following release from Pakistani custody and when we are asked to do so by the individual affected, we can raise those allegations with the appropriate authorities.
	Of the six detainees referred to in the earlier answer, one remains in Pakistani custody.
	British officials sought and were granted access to the two mono-British nationals. Priority was given to the welfare of the detainees.
	The answer provided to the earlier question, 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1815W, does not take into account allegations of mistreatment other than those made to UK officials.
	Consular access was not sought in all of the six cases, as four of the individuals were dual Pakistani/British nationals in the country of their other nationality. The Pakistani authorities are under no obligation to inform us of the detention of a dual Pakistani/British national or to provide consular access. We are exceptionally seeking access to one dual national in accordance with our published policy on the death penalty, but this is yet to be given.

Uganda: Peace Negotiations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether  (a) he,  (b) officials from his Department and  (c) UK representatives in Uganda have had discussions with elected political representatives of the Northern Uganda districts during the Juba peace talks process; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and other Government Ministries, both in London and in Uganda, have had frequent meetings with elected representatives, both national and local, from the Northern Uganda districts over the period of the Juba peace talks. These meetings were aimed at helping to develop a clear picture of the opinions and thoughts of those who have been affected by the conflict in the region.

Uganda: Peace Negotiations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the sustainability of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Uganda of the time taken to sign it.

Meg Munn: The draft Final Peace Agreement, between the Ugandan Government and the Lord's Resistance Army, represents a considerable achievement. The Government have called for it to be signed as soon as possible while recognising that full implementation will depend on the agreement of all parties.

Uganda: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the ability of the Uganda Special Court to provide trials for the leaders of the Lords Resistance Army in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law; and whether the Government has offered legal advice to the Government of Uganda on the constitution of the Uganda Special Court.

Meg Munn: As the Final Peace Agreement between the Ugandan Government and the Lord's Resistance Army has yet to be signed, the method of justice for those that perpetrated war crimes and human rights abuses during the conflict has not been finally agreed. Should a special division of the Ugandan High Court be established, the Government will press for it to be fully compatible with the Rome Statute and international law. The Government have not provided nor offered any legal advice to the Ugandan Government.

Zimbabwe: Arms Trade

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to press countries of the Southern African Development Community to commit themselves to preventing arms transfers to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The EU and US have an embargo on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe. We encourage all countries to adopt this approach and support the call for a temporary moratorium on all arms sales until Zimbabwe has a democratic Government in place.
	We have lobbied the Chinese about the sale of arms to Zimbabwe and we, and other EU partners, have lobbied southern African Governments. We also raised this in the UN Security Council on 29 April 2008.

Zimbabwe: Economic Situation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his European counterparts on taking steps against the  (a) manufacture and  (b) transfer of paper for the printing of Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheques by European countries.

Meg Munn: We have discussed the manufacture and supply of paper for the printing of Zimbabwean bearer cheques with the German government. It is a matter for them to decide on how to proceed.

Zimbabwe: Economic Situation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the European Commission to investigate whether the delivery of paper by MK Airline for the printing of Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheques is in breach of EU rules relating to Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: The EU targeted measures consist of a travel ban and assets freeze against 131 named individuals and an arms embargo. There are no economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and therefore nothing to investigate in this instance.

Zimbabwe: Elections

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to seek to help ensure that the second round of Presidential elections in Zimbabwe is free and fair; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is vital that election observers are deployed to Zimbabwe as soon as possible. Their presence will help deter the current high levels of political violence. The Southern African Development Community and the African Union have a crucial role to play in providing observers in sufficient numbers. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and I, have stressed this with African and other international leaders, and we will maintain close contact with them in the run up to polling day.

Zimbabwe: Human Rights

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the establishment of a UN mission to Zimbabwe to monitor human rights; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: In our contacts with the UN Secretary-General, we continue to encourage the UN to send an envoy or mission to Zimbabwe to monitor the worsening human rights situation in that country. This is urgently needed before the presidential election on 27 June.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the financial solvency of the Zimbabwe government.

Meg Munn: It is impossible to know the full extent of the financial solvency of the government of Zimbabwe for varied reasons including lack of disclosure on public finances and debt. The country's economy is in ruins through the economic and political mismanagement of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF government. But we do know the policy of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to continue printing money is a major driver of the country's hyper-inflation which, according to leaked government sources, had reached 355,000 per cent. in March.

Zimbabwe: Trade Unions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Zimbabwe on the treatment of trade unionists in that country, with particular reference to trades union leaders Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We, along with EU colleagues, regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Government of Zimbabwe. Sadly, they have disregarded our calls for respect of the rule of law and the cessation of violence and intimidation of those who have stood up for their rights.
	In spite of the challenges they face, ordinary members of civil society including trade union members remain committed to democratic change in Zimbabwe. We applaud their efforts to effect change through peaceful and legitimate means. Government officials carefully monitor the situation, including the extent of human rights abuses.

Zimbabwe: Weapons

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether the cargo of weapons from China destined for Zimbabwe has been delivered to that country.

Meg Munn: We were given assurances by the relevant governments that no official shipment of arms had been allowed; however, we are aware of media reports that the arms shipment has been delivered and are making enquiries to establish the accuracy of the information.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Conferences

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) the Big Lottery Fund,  (b) the Heritage Lottery Fund,  (c) Arts Council England,  (d) Sport England,  (e) UK Sport and  (f) the UK Film Council spent on conferences in each of the last three years; and what percentage of each was funded out of National Lottery income.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 20 May 2008
	Figures for the amount spent on conferences in each of the last three years, and the percentage that was funded out of national lottery income, as provided by the bodies in question, are as follows:
	
		
			   Cost 2007-08 ()  (Percentage out of national lottery income)  Cost 2006-07 ()  (Percentage out of national lottery income)  Cost 2005-06 ()  (Percentage out of national lottery income) 
			 Big Lottery Fund 45,121 34,526 142,120 
			  (100) (100) (100) 
			 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund 85,359 0 74,174 
			  (100) (100) (100) 
			 
			 Sport England 266,404 67,300 92,816 
			  (56) (56) (56) 
			 
			 UK Sport 434,936 498,709 382,084 
			  (0) (0) (0) 
			 
			 UK Film Council 39,344 5,487 78,396 
			  (0) (0) (0) 
		
	
	Figures for Arts Council England could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent employees were in post in his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by division.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			  2004  
			 DirectorDavey 3.8 
			 DirectorRoche 2.0 
			 Architecture and Historic Environment 36.6 
			 Arts 21.0 
			 Culture Online 7.7 
			 Govt Art Collection 16.0 
			 Libraries and Communities 24.0 
			 Museums, Galleries and Cultural Props 41.1 
			 Olympic Games Unit 9.6 
			 Sports 28.0 
			 Director GeneralKenny 2.0 
			 Communications 20.4 
			 Director GeneralRamsay 2.0 
			 DirectorLeonard 2.0 
			 Broadcasting Policy 36.0 
			 Creative Industries 21.0 
			 Gambling and National Lottery 16.0 
			 National Lottery 18.4 
			 Tourism 29.6 
			 Director GeneralHolgate 1.0 
			 Finance and Planning 22.2 
			 Internal Audit 4.0 
			 Public Appointments and Honours 14.1 
			 Personnel Central Services 42.4 
			 Private Office 37.0 
			 Strategy and Policy 16.8 
			 Analytical Services 14.4 
			 Trade Union 1.0 
			 Contingency Fund 8.0 
			 Total 498.2 
			   
			  2005  
			 Director GeneralJacobs 2.0 
			 DirectorDavey 3.0 
			 DirectorRoche 2.0 
			 Architecture and Historic Environment 37.8 
			 Arts 25.4 
			 Culture Online 10.1 
			 Govt Art Collection 16.0 
			 Libraries and Communities 25.0 
			 Museums, Galleries and Cultural Props 34.7 
			 Olympic Games Unit 14.3 
			 Sports 31.4 
			 Group Strategy unit 5.0 
			 Director GeneralKenny 1.6 
			 Communications 20.5 
			 Director GeneralRamsay 3.0 
			 DirectorLeonard 2.0 
			 Broadcasting Policy 39.0 
			 Creative Industries 21.0 
			 Gambling and National Lottery 16.9 
			 National Lottery 14.4 
			 Tourism 31.6 
			 Economic Impact 0.0 
			 Director GeneralHolgate 3.0 
			 DirectorBolt 2.0 
			 Finance and Planning 22.3 
			 Internal Audit 4.0 
			 Public Appointments and Honours 15.0 
			 Human and Business Resources 44.4 
			 Private Office 32.0 
			 Strategy 26.3 
			 Trade Union 1.0 
			 Total 506.8 
			  July 2006  
			 Director GeneralJacobs 2.0 
			 DirectorDavey 4.0 
			 DirectorRoche 2.0 
			 Architecture and Historic Environment 38.4 
			 Arts 21.8 
			 Culture Online 4.0 
			 Govt Art Collection 15.1 
			 Local Regional and Int 17.0 
			 Museums, Galleries and Cultural Props 34.0 
			 Govt Olympic Exec 29.9 
			 Sports 30.6 
			 Humanitarian Assistance Unit 7.0 
			 Group Strategy unit 4.8 
			 DirectorFeeney 1.3 
			 Communications 24.1 
			 Information Services 16.7 
			 Comms, Information and Briefing 16.8 
			 Director GeneralRamsay 2.9 
			 DirectorLeonard 2.0 
			 Broadcasting Policy 34.0 
			 Creative Industries 22.0 
			 Gambling and National Lottery 15.7 
			 National Lottery 12.4 
			 Tourism 28.0 
			 Economic Impact 2.0 
			 Director GeneralHolgate 3.0 
			 DirectorRoe 1.0 
			 Finance and Planning 16.0 
			 Public Bodies 16.0 
			 Human and Business Resources 28.3 
			 Private Office 30.4 
			 Strategy 26.3 
			 Trade Union 1.0 
			 Olympic Programme Support Unit 7.0 
			 Total 517.5 
			   
			  2007  
			 Director GeneralJacobs 3.0 
			 DirectorCharlesworth 0.8 
			 GovtOlympicExec 34.2 
			 Sports 34.7 
			 Group Strategy unit 2.0 
			 DirectorFeeney 2.0 
			 Communications 22.8 
			 Maternity Leave (Com) 2.0 
			 Information Services 16.5 
			 Comms, Information and Briefing 16.6 
			 Director GeneralRamsay 3.9 
			 DirectorLeonard 2.0 
			 DirectorDavey 6.6 
			 Broadcasting Policy 30.6 
			 Creative Industries 20.8 
			 Gambling and National Lottery 17.0 
			 National Lottery 10.4 
			 Tourism 28.9 
			 Economic Impact 2.0 
			 Govt Art Collection 13.8 
			 Local Regional and International 16.9 
			 Museums, Galleries and Cultural Props 30.0 
			 Humanitarian Assistance Unit 7.0 
			 Architecture and Historic Environment 35.4 
			 Arts 18.8 
			 Culture Online 0.0 
			 Active Generation Team 5:0 
			 Director GeneralHolgate 4.0 
			 DirectorRoe 1.0 
			 Finance and Planning 16.7 
			 Public Bodies 18.0 
			 Human and Business Resources 28.9 
			 Private Office 31.0 
			 Strategy 25.3 
			 Trade Union 1.0 
			 Olympic Prog Support Unit 6.0 
			 Total 515.4 
			   
			  2008  
			 Director GeneralRamsay 8.1 
			 DirectorLeonard 2.0 
			 DirectorDavey 4.0 
			 DirectorCharlesworth 1.0 
			 Broadcasting Policy 26.0 
			 Creative Industries 15.0 
			 Gambling and National Lottery 9.0 
			 Tourism 22.8 
			 Govt Art Collection 14.7 
			 Libraries and Communities 25.0 
			 Museums, Galleries and Cultural Props 26.0 
			 Humanitarian Assistance Unit 5.6 
			 Architecture and Historic Environment 29.8 
			 Arts 19.8 
			 Sports 28.0 
			 Active Generation Team 4.6 
			 Contingency (CCE) 7.7 
			 World Cup 2018 2.0 
			 DirectorFeeney 1.3 
			 Communications 16.6 
			 Information Services 15.5 
			 Comms, Information and Briefing 15.6 
			 Director GeneralHolgate 2.0 
			 Finance and Planning 19.0 
			 Public Bodies 10.0 
			 Human and Business Resources 24.6 
			 Private Office 28.0 
			 Strategy 18.6 
			 Transformation 8.3 
			 Government Olympic Executive 51.2 
			 Total 461.6 
			  Notes: 1. Aggregated information down to this level of detail is not available prior to 2004. 2. Except where stated the information provided is on 1 April each year. 3. There have been many changes to the structure of the Department since 1997-including amalgamation of divisions. 4. Staff who are unpaid i.e. on long term leave are not included. 5. Staff on maternity leave are not included.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table sets out the number and proportion of male, female, ethnic minority and disabled staff employed in DCMS. Unfortunately we are unable to provide the information on non-heterosexual staff as the Department only started monitoring this equality strand at the end of 2006. It will take the Department approximately five years to build up any meaningful data.
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Male 257 54 
			 Female 220 46 
			 Ethnic Minority 57 13 
			 Disabled 14 3

Departmental Public Expenditure

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Department's total grant-in-aid funding of  (a) English Heritage,  (b) the Museums and Libraries Association,  (c) the Arts Council,  (d) Sport England,  (e) UK Sport,  (f) the Heritage Lottery Fund and  (g) the UK Film Council was in each year since 1997-98.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  000 
			   Published outturn 
			  Body  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 English Heritage 105,183 102,404 112,609 119,000 110,401 116,387 119,442 127,901 129,136 141,321 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archive Council Established on 30 November 1999 104 13,164 12,210 14,276 13,408 13,458 14,174 15,793 
			 Arts Council 179,026 179,337 212,248 238,179 252,455 290,405 325,955 369,859 409,178 427,862 
			 Sport England 33,768 33,289 37,523 38,323 43,162 80,324 44,572 74,456 80,971 104,245 
			 UK Sport 11,824 11,600 12,600 12,750 16,733 16,321 23,175 23,500 29,305 53,105 
			 UK Film Council Came into operation October 1999 552 21,760 20,860 24,110 24,110 24,910 24,110 26,610 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund We do not provide grant-in-aid to the Heritage Lottery Fund

National Lottery: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much each national lottery and Olympic lottery distributor received from the National Lottery Distribution Fund and the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1997-98. [Official Report, 10 June 2008, Vol. 477, c. 2MC.]

Gerry Sutcliffe: Lottery distributors draw down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) and the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund (OLDF) to pay funds to successful grant applicants and meet administrative expenses. The amounts draw down are shown in the following tables. These amounts are not the same as the income raised by the national lottery and held on the distributors behalf in the NLDF and OLDF.
	The Olympic lottery distributor draw down only from the OLDF and the other distributors only from the NLDF.
	
		
			  000 
			  Financial year  Arts Council England  UK Film Council  Arts Council Northern Ireland  Scottish Arts Council  Arts Council of Wales  Community Fund  Heritage Lottery Fund  Millennium Cms 
			 1997-98 316,128  3,179 23,799 12,855 217,337 133,207 192,270 
			 1998-99 320,057  4,261 25,295 15,941 271,437 195,800 397,969 
			 1999-2000 208,815  9,342 26,079 14,960 373,229 277,162 622,483 
			 2000-01 218,912 7,337 6,166 27,171 11,147 404,050 289,677 446,604 
			 2001-02 218,287 10,393 6,026 25,259 10,719 384,471 262,040 203,859 
			 2002-03 178,533 24,498 7,174 15,822 15,549 352,214 264,828 190,477 
			 2003-04 182,631 59,671 6,417 25,761 18,086 310,182 323,792 67,820 
			 2004-05 219,984 29,370 8,248 23,660 16,175 272,782 308,268 53,999 
			 2005-06 191,968 35,967 10,963 22,374 11,087 240,615 374,283 52,113 
			 2006-07 147,152 28,036 15,459 19,633 15,539 182,225 367,196 18,005 
		
	
	
		
			  000 
			  Financial Year  New Opportunities Fund  Sport England  Sports Northern Ireland  Sport Scotland  UK Sport  Sports Council for Wales  Scottish Screen  Big Lottery Fund  Olympic Lottery Distributor 
			 1997-98 0 152,846 7,987 16,221  11,238
			 1998-99 2,408 357,162 6,323 19,273  14,622
			 1999-2000 59,483 250,686 10,323 25,645  14,677
			 2000-01 150,200 231,558 5,107 25,894 22,152 7,829
			 2001-02 225,250 297,500 5,213 23,166 23,036 10,318 4,021   
			 2002-03 462 307,958 5,666 17,396 25,842 20,632 4,211   
			 2003-04 598 237,400 3,904 33,566 19,830 20,770 2,642   
			 2004-05 530 170,700 5,939 28,977 17,075 18,888 226   
			 2005-06 637,200 202,100 6,651 23,524 19,147 12,662 2,901  33 
			 2006-07 344 121,400 7,976 21,898 46,852 10,649 1,773 264,142 55,713

Sports: Drugs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the plans for the establishment of a National Anti-Doping Agency referred to in his Department's Corporate Plan have been approved.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Plans for the new National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) remain under discussion between the Department and UK Sport.

World Creative Business Summit

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the World Creative Business summit steering group will be established; and when the first world creative business summit will take place.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 June 2008
	In our strategy for the creative economy, 'Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy', published in February 2008, we announced that we would initiate the launch of the World Creative Business Conference.
	We have now appointed an events agency (Acclaim) and a public relations agency (Edelman) to help fulfil this commitment. There are currently no plans to set up a steering group.
	Our intention is that the first World Creative Business Conference should take place in late 2009.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office received 379 questions since the start of this Session (up to Friday 25 April). The average time taken to answer a question over that period was 6.3 days.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much his Department paid in jobseekers allowance in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority and  (c) Government Office region;
	(2)  how much his Department paid in incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority and  (c) Government Office region;
	(3)  how much his Department paid in income support to working age households in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority and  (c) Government Office region;
	(4)  how much his Department paid in out-of-work benefits in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority and  (c) Government Office region.

James Plaskitt: Information on expenditure by constituency and local authority could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The available national and regional information has been placed in the Library.

Children: Support

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  for what reasons the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will be required to obtain court permission to confiscate driving licences;
	(2)  what reasons the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will be able to confiscate travel documents of non-payers of child support on its own authority.

James Plaskitt: Disqualification from driving for failure to pay statutory maintenance is an established part of the child maintenance enforcement process and there has been wide agreement that the surrender of a passport, or in some cases the travel element of an ID card, would be a useful tool to gain compliance from some non-resident parents.
	The Child Maintenance White Paper in December 2006 said that we were exploring whether to make disqualification from driving and the surrender of travel documents an administrative process and these options were seriously considered. However, we have acknowledged concerns raised in relation to passports during the passage of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill that these should not be administrative measures.
	Subject to passage of the Bill, the Commission will be able to apply to the court to disqualify the non-resident parent from holding or obtaining a travel authorisation or from driving.
	However, we want the Commission to be able to vigorously pursue those who are not discharging their legal and moral duties to support their children and we will continue to explore whether these decisions need to be made by the court or could be more effectively made administratively.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what resources his Department makes available to Citizens Advice Bureaux to provide benefits advice and debt advice.

Anne McGuire: My Department does not core fund the Citizens Advice organisation, or other advice agencies, but we do work very closely with Citizens Advice to provide their advisers with information about the services that my Department delivers. This includes a quarterly magazine and information on our advisers website, and we also help quality assure information they make available to their advisers through their CABnet information system.
	At agency level, Jobcentre Plus has a Partnership Agreement with Citizens Advice, and they are a key partner for the Pensions, Disability and Carers Services in work around pension credit take-up.
	We do on occasion provide funding for specific initiatives that support the Department's aims and objectives. Most recently, 1.65 million in funding was provided to 24 bureaux, for the period March 2005 to February 2007, from the Department's Partnership Fund, which was aimed at encouraging initiatives to support the take up of pension credit.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to prevent security breaches in his Department.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The Department takes its responsibilities for the protection of personal data extremely seriously, and has in place a number of technical safeguards, rules, and clear standards of behaviour for all staff. These are designed to protect all assets, including information. They are regularly reviewed in the light of events.
	On 21 November 2007, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that he had asked the Cabinet Secretary to work with Departments to ensure that they check their procedures for the storage and use of data.
	Since then the Department has worked closely with the Cabinet Office, and has already implemented a number of improved controls to reduce the risk of security breaches. Particular improvements include increased staff awareness of information risks; new controls over the physical movement of personal data; encryption of all laptop computers; introduction of encrypted media where data movements cannot be made electronically; and new IT controls which prevent staff who handle personal customer data from copying onto unencrypted media.

Jobcentre Plus: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many customers in Dorset and Somerset used the out-of-hours service that Jobcentre Plus operates on behalf of his Department in each of the last six months for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 4 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of customers in Dorset and Somerset who used the Out of Hours Service that Jobcentre Plus operates on behalf of his Department in each of the last six months for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Since October 2007 there have been 203 referrals to the Out of Hours Service in Dorset and Somerset. Of these referrals 88 were 'effective', i.e. resulted in a visit because they were appropriate referrals.
	The information available is set out in the table below.
	
		
			   Referrals  Visits  Percentage of calls resulting in visit 
			 October 2007 26 13 50 
			 November 2007 20 12 60 
			 December 2007 62 20 32 
			 January 2008 29 10 34 
			 February 2008 33 14 42 
			 March 2008 33 19 58 
			 Total 203 88 43 
			  Source: Collected locally by South West Out of Hours Service and this format may not be compatible with information collected by other Out of Hours offices. 
		
	
	Since the Out of Hours Service was established we have radically changed the way we deliver our services. There is now easier access to Crisis Loans and efficient telephony channels for customers to resolve any problems with benefit and pension claims. The introduction of direct payment into bank accounts has almost eliminated the non-receipt/loss of benefit payments. These changes have dramatically reduced the need for Out of Hours emergency payments, especially during the week. As a result, with effect from 12 May 2008, the Out of Hours Service is now only available at weekends, statutory holidays and when there are exceptional circumstances resulting in an office closure.

Jobcentre Plus: Working Hours

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people used the out-of-hours service that Jobcentre Plus operates on behalf of his Department during week-day evenings in the last six months for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 4 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many people used the Out of Hours Service that Jobcentre Plus operates on behalf of his Department during week-day evenings in the last six months for which figures are available. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As management information collected on Out of Hours Service may not have been consistent across offices, a three month sampling exercise was undertaken as part of the review of the Out of Hours Service. It was found during this period that on average 556 calls were made nationally to the Out of Hours Service which resulted in an average of 242 visits being made to customers each week. The proportion of these calls that occurred between Monday to Thursday was 15% which equates to an average of 40 visits to customers per week.

New Deal Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of exemptions from the New Deal in each year since 1997;
	(2)  for what reasons a person may be exempted from the New Deal.

Stephen Timms: No estimate has been made of the number of exemptions from the New Deal since 1997 as this information is not recorded by the Department. The only exemptions from New Deal are those who request an exemption from being designated as part of a joint claim for Jobseeker's Allowance. For example, if one member of the couple is: responsible for a child or young person; a carer; studying full-time; incapable of work through illness or disability; living in a care home; registered blind; incapable of work because of pregnancy; a refugee learning English; required to attend a court or tribunal as part of the proceedings; or involved in a trade dispute, only one member of the couple would need to meet the conditions for them to receive the couple rate of Jobseeker's Allowance. The other member would be a 'dependant partner'. In this scenario, only the member of the couple required to meet the Jobseeker's Allowance conditions would be required to participate in New Deal.
	The number of customers excluded from New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 Plus is estimated to be approximately eight in every 1,000 participants. Figures to August 2007 show that around 7,040 customers (0.4 per cent. of a total of 1,725,000 participants) have been excluded from New Deal for Young People since the programme began in January 1998; and around 16,050 customers (1.6 per cent. of a total of 1,033,500 participants) have been excluded from New Deal 25 Plus since the programme began in July 1998.
	Customers are excluded from New Deal when their behaviour (which may include verbal or physical assault, threat of assault, or intentional damage to property) poses major difficulties to Jobcentre Plus staff. Managers have the discretion to exclude participants from New Deal if they feel their presence would cause disruption to others. In this instance, every effort is made to refer such customers to organisations who may be able to help them tackle their problem, or to discuss with them whether Jobseeker's Allowance is the appropriate benefit. The circumstances of the small number of participants who have been excluded are reviewed regularly and, where these change, participants can be brought back in to New Deal at the point at which they left.

Occupational Pensions

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies have appealed against decisions on the amount of their annual contribution to the Pension Protection Fund for 2008-09; how many of those appeals have been successful; and what the average amount by which a contribution has been reduced following a successful appeal is.

Mike O'Brien: Information in relation to the levy year 2008-09 is not available, as invoices for the pension protection levy will not be issued until later this year.

Pathways to Work

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants in Pathways to Work are aged  (a) under 50 and  (b) 50 years and over.

Stephen Timms: Estimates for the number of participants on Pathways to Work are not available.
	To October 2007 there have been 733,740 starts to Pathways to Work. Of these starts around 527,000 (72 per cent.) relate to customers who were under the age of 50 at the start of their Pathways to Work spell, around 193,000 (26 per cent.) relate to people over 50, and age information is not recorded for around 14,000 (2 per cent.) of starts.

Rented Housing: Cambridge

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1699W, on rented housing: Cambridge, if he will publish the information contained on the lettings information database for the Broad Market Rental Area within which Cambridge lies.

James Plaskitt: The Rent Service is preparing the list of rents used for the setting of the local housing allowance (LHA) for all broad rental market areas (BRMA) across England in a format that will allow them to be published on the internet at:
	https://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/
	and
	http://www.therentservice.gov.uk/
	These lists will be provided in a graphic format for ease of use and they will be updated monthly at the time of the LHA reviews. The current list for the BRMA that includes Cambridge is in the following table.
	The Rent Service (TRS) is committed to collecting private rented sector rents through contacts with private landlords, lettings agents and other sources of lettings information who are representative of the local lettings market. TRS is also committed to collecting a range of lettings information across the whole market that is representative of rent, condition and property type within neighbourhoods across a BRMA.
	
		
			  The broad rental market area including Cambridge 
			  Local housing allowance category  Range of net rents (weekly)  Local housing allowance median  () 
			 1 Room (shared) 394 pieces of evidencefrom 42.69 to 146.54 75.00 
			 1 Bedroom 596 pieces of evidencefrom 32.54 to 323.08 126.92 
			 2 Bedrooms 1,521 pieces of evidencefrom 69.00 to 369.23 149.43 
			 3 Bedrooms 1,112 pieces of evidencefrom 80.77 to 438.46 173.08 
			 4 Bedrooms 417 pieces of evidencefrom 121. 15 to 634.62 253.85 
			 5 Bedrooms 97 pieces of evidencefrom 161.54 to 923.08 346.15 
			  Note: The table includes the range of lettings evidence, collected over a 12-month period that is used to calculate the LHA rates for the BRMA

Social Security Benefits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the savings limits and tariff income rules are for each category of income-related benefit; and when those levels were last changed.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Lower capital limit ()  Upper capital limit ()  Tariff income -weekly rate 
			 Capital limits and tariff income rates in the income related benefits. 
			 Income Support 6,000(1) 16,000 1 per 250 
			 Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 6,000(1) 16,000 1 per 250 
			 Pension Credit 6,000(1) No upper capital limit 1 per 500 
			 Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit (working age people) 6,000 16,000 1 per 250 
			 Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit for people who have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit 6,000 16,000(2) 1 per 500 
			  Notes: 1. For those in residential accommodation, the lower capital limit is 10,000. 2. Those in receipt of the pension credit guarantee credit are passported onto full housing benefit and/or council tax benefit and the upper capital limit doesn't apply. 
		
	
	From 10 April 2006 the lower capital limit across income support, income.
	based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit was increased from 3,000 to 6,000. At the same time, the upper capital limit for income support and income based jobseeker's allowance was increased to 16,000 from 8,000 in line with housing benefit and council tax benefit. The capital limit in pension credit has not changed since its introduction in October 2003.

Social Security Benefits

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of those entitled who do not take up benefit entitlements among (i) pensioners, (ii) working age families with children and (iii) working age families without children in (A) the UK, (B) each region and (C) each local authority area.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of the number of those who do not take-up their entitlement to income-related benefits and the take-up rate, for various groups in Great Britain, are published in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2005-06 report. A copy of this and past reports are available in the Library.
	Estimates of the number and proportion of those who do not take-up their entitlement are not available below the level of Great Britain. It is therefore not possible to give estimates for each region or local authority in the UK.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in his Department in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Gillian Merron: Department for International Development (DFID) senior civil service (SCS) members are eligible for a non-consolidated bonus award. Bonuses are intended to reward delivery of personal business objectives during the reporting year or other short-term personal contributions to wider organisational objectives. In considering SCS members for bonus, line managers are asked to take into account:
	performance against agreed priority business objectives or targets;
	total delivery record over the year;
	relative stretch (i.e. the challenge of the job compared to that of others); and
	response to unforeseen events that affected the performance agreement.
	DFID paid a total of 504,000 in non-consolidated performance bonuses to 63 senior civil servants in the 2007-08 financial year in recognition of their performance during the 2006-07 reporting year.
	DFID's reward arrangements for the 2007-08 financial year did not allow for the payment of end of year performance bonuses to staff below the senior civil service.

Iraq: Asylum

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of Iraqi refugees in  (a) Syria,  (b) Lebanon,  (c) Jordan and  (d) Iran.

Shahid Malik: The Office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) leads on estimating Iraqi refugee numbers in the region. In their latest April-May situation report, they estimated the following:
	Syria -1.2 to 1.5 million Iraqi refugees
	Jordan - 450,000 to 500,000
	Lebanon - 20,000 to 50,000
	Iran - 57,000
	UNHCR has registered some 280,000 refugees throughout the region, including 194,273 in Syria and 53,000 in Jordan.

Iraq: Overseas Aid

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department spent on  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral aid to Iraq in each year since 1998.

Shahid Malik: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral assistance and imputed multilateral assistance to Iraq since 1998 is laid out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Total DFID Bilateral expenditure 2000-01  2006-07 
			   Iraq  (000) 
			 1998-99 5,749 
			 1999-2000 6,585 
			 2000-01 9,545 
			 2001-02 7,760 
			 2002-03 18,853 
			 2003-04 209,313 
			 2004-05 49,107 
			 2005-06 86,869 
			 2006-07 49,569 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed DFID Share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 2000-01  2006-07 
			   Iraq (000) 
			 1998-99 1,226 
			 1999-2000 726 
			 2000-01 589 
			 2001-02 1,183 
			 2002-03 2,252 
			 2003-04 10,535 
			 2004-05 9,982 
			 2005-06 5,892 
			 2006-07 13,526

Uganda: Refugees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether  (a) he,  (b) officials of his Department and  (c) UK representatives in Uganda have had discussions with the government of Uganda on the closure of internally displaced persons' camps in Northern Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: During his visit to Uganda in November 2007, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, visited internally displaced persons' (IDP) camps and held discussions on a range of issues regarding the return of people to their villages, or settlement in new locations.
	The Government of Uganda has recently circulated to development partners its draft Camp phase out guidelines for all districts that have IDP camps. We and other partners have commented on the draft guidelines and made the point that the return of displaced persons should be voluntary and the displaced persons should actively participate in the planning of the return process as required under international law. These principals have been recognised in the draft guidelines.

HEALTH

Autism: Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding was allocated to each English local authority to meet the costs of providing services to adults with autistic spectrum disorders in each of the last five reported years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what financial support will be given to local authorities to help meet the cost of supporting projected numbers of adults diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We do not hold information centrally on allocated funding to each English local authority (LA) to meet the costs of providing services to adults with autistic spectrum disorders.
	It is for LAs to determine the level of funding for the next three years from their general allocations. In doing this, they should take into consideration locally identified needs and assessments of individuals.

Benzodiazepines

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on routine prescribing of benzodiazepines on admission to psychiatric wards.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not commissioned research into the prescription of benzodiazepines on admission to psychiatric wards.

Benzodiazepines: Misuse

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department collects on the number of patients experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal but diagnosed with a psychological disorder.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Cannabis: Mentally Ill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on potential links between cannabis use and psychosis;
	(2)  how many people are being treated in each primary care trust for psychosis arising from regular cannabis use.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's Policy Research Programme (PRP) has funded a review of the most recent evidence concerning both the impact the use of cannabis has on people with mental health problems, in particular severe mental illness, and effective interventions aimed at reducing such use. The results of the review were published in the Lancet in July 2007 and were available to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs when it recently reviewed the issue of classification.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy Best Research for Best Health: A new national health research strategy is resulting in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. Copies of the strategy have been placed in the Library. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), set up as part of that implementation process, has awarded a 2 million programme grant to support research on improving physical health and reducing substance use, particularly cannabis use, in severe mental illness. Research on cannabis use and psychosis will also form part of the work programme of the NIHR's South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Research Centre which the Department began funding in April 2007.
	The Department has also recently agreed to commission a review of studies on the incidence and prevalence of psychosis and schizophrenia.
	The information requested on people being treated for psychosis arising from cannabis use is not available centrally.
	The Department is concerned about the negative impact of cannabis use and intoxication on acute mental health patients and on mental health services.
	The Department advises that cannabis use is harmful for people with existing mental health problems, being linked with relapse and resistance to treatments.

Chronically Sick: Neurology

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will review the 2005 National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 2005 National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions against its target of complying with the 2004 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline for epilepsy.

Ann Keen: We have no current plans to review the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term Neurological Conditions. Copies of the NSF are available in the Library.
	The NSF for Long-term Conditions has no target for compliance with the guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults and children.
	NICE guidance consists of recommendations for health professionals on diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Health professionals are free to use their clinical judgment, in consultation with the wishes of the patient, to decide, on an individual basis, the most appropriate treatment options.

Epilepsy

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the 2003 Action Plan for Epilepsy.

Ann Keen: There are no current plans to review the Improving Services for People with Epilepsy: Department of Health Action Plan in response to the National Clinical Audit of Epilepsy Related Death. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.

Mental Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many doctors were diagnosed with mental health problems in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people were diagnosed with mental health conditions in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not collected centrally about diagnoses for any condition in primary care, so reliable data is not available about the number of people, regardless of profession, who have been diagnosed with mental ill health.
	One sixth of the population suffers from a common mental health problem every day and one in 100 people suffers from a serious mental illness such as psychosis.

Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy;
	(2)  how many patients received computerised cognitive behavioural therapy treatment delivered in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The effectiveness of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) has been assessed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which issued a technology appraisal in February 2006, indicating that this therapy can be effective in treating mild and moderate depression and the anxiety disorders of phobia and panic.
	NICE also published its guidance Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxiety in February 2004. NICE will be consulting on review plans for this guidance in September 2008.
	Data on the amount of patients who have received cCBT treatment delivered via computer in each of the last three years is not held centrally.
	Whether a patient has received cCBT treatment would be recorded in individual patients'notes and by the various national health service, private and voluntary sector organisations providing such services.

Mental Health Services: Community Care

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1018W, on the mentally ill: community care, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of mental health advocacy for people subject to community treatment orders within strategic health authorities;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely provision of independent mental health advocacy for patients discharged from hospital and subject to community treatment orders up to April 2009.

Ivan Lewis: The Department carries out mapping of mental health service provision across England, including advocacy services annually. The latest available details of advocacy provision in each strategic health authority (SHA) area are set out in the following table. This is general provision and will be available to people subject to community treatment orders and others:
	
		
			  Mental health services: number of adult advocacy services in England by SHAs at 31 March 2007 
			  SHA name  Number of services 
			 England total 230 
			   
			 East Midlands SHA 14 
			 East of England SHA 23 
			 London SHA 44 
			 North East SHA 14 
			 North West SHA 47 
			 South Central SHA 20 
			 South East Coast SHA 9 
			 South West SHA 18 
			 West Midlands SHA 21 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 20 
			  Source: Service Mapping exercise

Mental Health Services: Islington

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on mental health services in Islington in each year since 1997-98; and how many mental health patients from Islington were cared for  (a) as in-patients and  (b) through care in the community in each of those years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is available about expenditure on secondary mental health services, where patients have been referred to specialist mental health services, but information about expenditure on primary mental health services, such as treatment by general practitioners, is not held.
	Figures for expenditure on the commissioning of secondary mental health services in Islington for each year from 2000-01 to 2006-07 are set out in the following table. From 2000 to 2002, Camden and Islington health authority commissioned secondary mental health services for Islington. Since 2002, services have been commissioned by Islington primary care trust (PCT).
	
		
			  Expenditure on the commissioning of secondary mental health services in Islington 
			  Commissioning organisation  Financial year  Expenditure (000) 
			 Camden and Islington Health Authority 2000-01 77,866 
			  2001-02 92,952 
			
			 Islington PCT 2002-03 51,429 
			  2003-04 53,522 
			  2004-05 57,478 
			  2005-06 66,493 
			  2006-07 77,725 
			  Source:  Audited Camden and Islington Health Authority summarisation forms 2000-01 and 2001-02; audited Islington PCT summarisation schedules 2002-03 to 2006-07. 
		
	
	Regarding the number of mental health patients from Islington cared for as in-patients, the following table shows the number of hospital admissions for mental health consultant specialities where the patient's PCT of residence is Islington for each year since 1997-98.
	
		
			  Number of hospital admissions for mental health consultant specialities where the patient's PCT of residence is Islington 
			   Count of hospital admissions for mental health consultant specialities( 1)  for patients whose PCT of residence was Islington. 
			 1997-98 1,214 
			 1998-99 1,164 
			 1999-2000 1,130 
			 2000-01 926 
			 2001-02 874 
			 2002-03 823 
			 2003-04 788 
			 2004-05 836 
			 2005-06 843 
			 2006-07 1,041 
			 (1) Care is needed when analysing HES codes by speciality, or by groups of specialities, as trusts have different ways of managing specialities and attributing codes. The speciality classifications used to compile these data are: mental illness; child and adolescent psychiatry; forensic psychiatry; psychotherapy; and old age psychiatry.  Notes: 1.  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). 2.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the national health service there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 3.  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts, and PCTs in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 4.  Finished admission episodes (FAEs) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	Regarding the number of mental health patients from Islington cared for through care in the community, the following table shows the number of patients served by early intervention (EI) teams and assertive outreach (AO) teams and the number of treatment episodes delivered by crisis resolution (CR) teams for each year since 2001-02. It also shows the local community mental health team's total caseload at the end of each financial year for 2002-03 and 2006-07 (this data collection was discontinued between 2003-04 and 2005-06). EI, AO and CR teams were introduced as part of the strategy set out in the National Service Framework for Mental Health (the NSF), published in 1999, to deliver mental health services in the community. Copies of the NSF are available in the Library.
	
		
			  Number of patients in Islington served by EI and AO teams, number of treatment episodes delivered by CR teams and local community mental health team's total caseload 
			   Islington PCT  Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust( 1) 
			   Number of people served by an EI team  Number of treatment episodes delivered by a CR team( 2)  Number of people served by an AO team  Total caseload of the community mental health team at 31 March 
			 2001-02 (3) (3) (4)52 (3) 
			 2002-03 0 188 276 2,184 
			 2003-04 12 1,005 79 (3) 
			 2004-05 50 1,098 110 (3) 
			 2005-06 109 1,487 128 (3) 
			 2006-07 139 818 140 2,917 
			 (1 )Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust became Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust on 1 March 2008. (2 )The CR guidance was revised in 2005-06. The CR activity data for 2005-06 and 2006-07 show the number of home treatment episodespatients who have more than one home treatment episode are counted more than once. Prior to that, the CR team data show the total number of people treated by the CR team. (3 )Denotes data not available. (4 )In 2001-02, data were collected on the number of people served by AO teams from Camden and Islington health authority, rather than Islington PCT.  Note: The target dates for full establishment of these mental health teams was December 2003 for AO teams and December 2004 for EI and CR teams.  Sources:  Local planning delivery returns and mental health service mapping.

Mental Health: Advocacy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health advocates he estimates there will be in each of the next three years; and what the estimated cost of employing them will be in each of those years.

Ivan Lewis: The provisions for independent mental health advocacy are expected to be introduced in April 2009. The Department has not estimated how many mental health advocates there will be in each of the next three years. It will be for local commissioners to determine the numbers of advocates required to fulfil their obligations under the Mental Health Act.
	Consequently, the Department equally cannot estimate costs of employing these advocates. We are committed to providing additional funding for these services to local commissioners but, as priorities for additional funding from 2009-10 have not yet been finalised, we cannot yet confirm the exact amounts.

Mentally Ill: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs to people under 16 years was in each of the last five years, broken down by health trust.

Ivan Lewis: The Prescription Price Division of the NHS Business Services Authority captures information about prescription of specific drugs to under 16s for only a sample of total prescriptions. A table showing the approximate cost of prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs to people under 16 years in the last five calendar years broken down by primary care trust, based on this sample data, has been placed in the Library.

Methadone

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of prescribing methadone to prisoners in each prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and whether heroin has been prescribed to prisoners during that period.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Since April 2007, HM Prison Service has collected information on regular opioid prescriptions to prisoners. From April to December 2007, 9,242 maintenance prescriptions, for methadone and buprenorphine, were initiated.
	Heroin is not prescribed to prisoners in England and Wales.

Nurses: Maternity Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues on the number of nurses per child designated to care for  (a) sick and  (b) premature babies in intensive care; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department's policy for neonatal services is set out in the Report of the Neonatal Intensive Care Services Review Group, April 2003, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The report considered nurse staffing ratios, concluding that staffing on a day-to-day basis should reflect infant and family dependency rather than simply cot numbers.
	The Department does not mandate standards for nursing care but has shared standards recommended by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine as part of its 2003 review of neonatal services.
	The nurse to baby ratio is not a straightforward issue, with the level of criticality ill babies varying from day to day. Therefore, decisions regarding safe occupancy and nursing ratios are matters for local networks and units.

Palliative Care

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department plans to allocate to primary care trusts for  (a) palliative care,  (b) disabled services and  (c) hospice funding under the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2008-09; what guidance (i) he has issued and (ii) plans to issue on the allocation of such funding; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Funding has been included in primary care trust (PCT) allocations for 2008-09 for palliative care and disabled children in support of the objectives set out in The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 2008-09. PCT allocations are not broken down into funding for individual areas, and it is for the national health service locally to decide how best to deliver the objectives in the light of the local needs and circumstances, including how much resource to invest. In addition to PCT allocations, there is a 9 million central grant in 2008-09 for children's hospices and hospice at home services.
	Future guidance that is due includes the End of Life Strategy and the Child Health Strategy, which will inform future operating frameworks, and consequently the funding the NHS will need to invest in support of their delivery. The Department has also announced that the grant for children's hospices and hospice at home services will be extended for a further two years, by 20 million in total.
	My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister and myself recently met a number of hon. Members to discuss the hospice funding issues. Work to develop the End of Life Care Strategy for adults, which is due to be published in the summer, has considered, among other things, the role of, and funding for hospices. The Department has also received other correspondence asking about funding for these services.

Palliative Care

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on palliative and end of life care in each of the last five years; and how many people received such care in each year.

Ivan Lewis: We do not collect information centrally on expenditure on palliative/end of life care or the number of patients in receipt of palliative/end of life care. There are no central revenue allocations specifically for end of life care. Primary care trusts (PCTs) remain responsible within the national health service for commissioning and funding services for their resident population, including end of life care. It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.

Pancreatitis

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward plans to  (a) raise awareness of pancreatitis and  (b) provide support to pancreatitis patient self-help groups.

Ann Keen: The Government have already made information available on the causes and treatment of pancreatitis on the NHS choices website, which can be found at:
	www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatitis/Pages/Questionstoaskpg.aspx?url=Pages/Questionstoasktab.aspx
	The Department has no current plans to provide support to pancreatitis patient self-help groups.

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to assess the effectiveness of the National Suicide Strategy;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to develop a Suicide Strategy for England for the period after 2010.

Ivan Lewis: The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England is comprehensive, evidence-based and subject to monitoring and evaluation. It is overseen by the Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group which provides leadership and support in ensuring successful implementation and valuable input into the development of various specific actions outlined in the strategy where members have a particular expertise.
	An annual report is published setting out progress in implementing the strategy and highlighting further activity that will take place in the following year. The next report, covering the calendar year 2007, is due to be published in summer 2008.
	There are no plans to develop a Suicide Prevention Strategy for England beyond 2010. However, we would expect the prevention of suicide to remain a priority area and the infrastructure is in place for co-ordinated suicide prevention measures to continue to be taken in partnership with other stakeholders.

JUSTICE

British Nationality

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made in drawing up a Statement of British Values; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: We are currently finalising a process to inform the debate on the Statement of Values. This will include a series of events around the country. We expect to make an announcement about the way ahead before the summer recess.

Courts: Victims

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve facilities for the families of victims in court; and what plans he has to increase the provision of  (a) seating in public galleries in courtrooms and  (b) rooms in court buildings for the use of the families of victims of crime.

Maria Eagle: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) has spent 3.7 million over the last three years improving court accommodation for victims and witnesses. The statutory code of practice for victims of crime places an obligation on the courts to ensure that victims (including families of deceased victims) have, and are directed to, a separate waiting area and a seat in the courtroom away from the defendant's family or friends. In addition, the Government target for all Crown courts and 90 per cent. of magistrates courts to have separate waiting facilities by 2008 has already been met. The witness charter, which is expected to be implemented by HMCS by March 2009, requires courts to arrange seating in the public gallery for families, where layout permits.

Crime: Victim Support Schemes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve the access of young people who are victims of crime to  (a) counselling and  (b) other support services.

Maria Eagle: As part of its 37 million annual grant from the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Victim Support provides emotional and practical support for over 1.4 million victims of crime a year, of which about 300,000 a year are under the age of 18. Clinically-accredited counselling is not provided directly by Victim Support, but can be commissioned by Victim Support as part of the support service it provides to victims. The Youth Crime Action Plan to be published in summer 2008 will include proposals to support young victims of crime.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Bridget Prentice: Year-end-bonus payments are paid to high performing staff to reflect their individual contribution during the previous performance year. In the Ministry of Justice, for both senior civil service (SCS) and grades below SCS, the performance year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Therefore, 2006-07 was the relevant performance year for the payments made during the financial year 2007-8.
	 (a) Core Ministry of Justice (SCS and grades below SCS)
	For the Senior Civil Service end of year performance bonuses are allocated by the Departmental Pay Committee in accordance with guidelines issued by Cabinet Office each year following the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations. As the Ministry of Justice was not formed until after the end of the 2006-07 performance year, SCS staff bonuses were determined by the pay committees in their departments prior to the creation of the Ministry.
	For grades below the SCS end of year end performance bonuses are paid to staff who have been judged to have consistently exceeded their objectives throughout the performance year under the Ministry's performance management system.
	Total amount paid and number of bonuses are shown in the following table
	
		
			  Group  Total paid  Number of bonus payments 
			 Senior Civil Service 866,500 116 
			 Grades below SCS 967,966 2,419 
			 All staff in ex DC A 1,834,466 2,535 
		
	
	The information contained above excludes payments to staff on Home Office terms who transferred from the Home Office to the Ministry of Justice in May 2007 (with the establishment of the Ministry). Details for these staff is included in the answer provided by the Home Office.
	 (b) HM Prison Service (SCS and grades below the SCS)
	For the Senior Civil Service end of year performance bonuses are allocated in accordance with guidelines issued by Cabinet Office each year following the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations.
	For grades below the SCS end of year end performance bonuses are paid to staff who have consistently exceeded their objectives throughout the performance year.
	Total amount paid and number of bonuses are shown in the following table
	
		
			  Group  Total Paid  Number of Bonus Payments 
			 Senior Civil Service 174,988 17 
			 Grades below SCS 1,096,766 4,816 
			 All staff in HMPS 1,271,754 4,833

Elections: Greater London

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons ballot papers for the London Mayoral elections instructed voters to vote for two candidates and did not mention their right not to cast a second preference.

Bridget Prentice: The Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007 specify the form and content of the ballot papers. These were drafted after significant research and development work carried out by the communications officers of the GLA London Elects team, including trials of use of the ballot papers by the public.
	For the sake of clarity, instructions to voters on ballot papers are kept to a minimum and a fuller explanation of the use of first and second preference votes was given in guidance materials and factsheets available to all electors.

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoner Escapes

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of absconders from Hollesley Bay Prison.

David Hanson: Every effort is made to keep absconds to a minimum. Records show that both the National Offender Management Service in general, and Hollesley Bay individually, are succeeding in these efforts, and that given the high occupancy rate this demonstrates, that protecting the public is the main priority of all prisons, especially open establishments. Absconds in 2007-08 are less than half the level of 10 years ago(1).
	The figures for absconds in England and Wales, and for Hollesley Bay, for the last five years are set out in the following table.
	(1) Absconds for 1997-98 were 1,056.
	
		
			   Absconds England and Wales  Absconds Hollesley Bay 
			 2003-04 1,310 36 
			 2004-05 877 32 
			 2005-06 709 16 
			 2006-07 555 21 
			 2007-08 513 19

Judges: Housing

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse of the provision of accommodation and associated services for judges in  (a) London and  (b) elsewhere in England and Wales was in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many judges were provided with such accommodation and services in each location; and what the average cost per judge was of such provision, broken down by location of accommodation.

Jack Straw: The total cost of providing the network of judges' lodgings in 2006-07, which is the last year for which audited figures are presently available, was 4,947,766.26. The average cost since 1999-2000 has remained at just over 5 million which, when inflationary pressures are taken into account, shows that the economics of lodgings are carefully managed and have delivered a saving since 2000 of 12 per cent. Nevertheless, the cost of lodgings is kept under permanent review.
	No lodgings expenses of any kind were funded in London in 2006-07.
	The data set out as follows relate to the 32 judges' lodgings in England and Wales. The first table sets out how many judges and clerks were provided with accommodation at the 32 lodgings located across England and Wales and what the average cost per judge week was in each case. The data set out as follows also include 17 lodgings owned by the Department that are not occupied by judges all the time. These permanent lodgings incur a cost throughout the year which will generate an increased cost per High Court judge week; equally, the average cost per week will decline as the lodgings are used more frequently. This is illustrated by the cost per week of Norwich lodgings over the last four years, given in the second table.
	
		
			  Judges lodgings  Number of judges accommodated  Total cost ()  Cosy per judge week () 
			 Birmingham 37 490,972.64 3,517.00 
			 Leicester 3 55,094.65 3,722.61 
			 Lincoln 1 12,946.36 3,236.59 
			 Nottingham 13 227,065.83 4,417.62 
			 Northampton 2 24,915.36 6,228.84 
			 Stafford 6 100,690.94 3,107.75 
			 Warwick 1 4,989.75 3,118.59 
			 Worcester 1 11,070.48 11,070.48 
			 Hull 7 63,439.73 3,079.60 
			 Leeds 22 273,359.01 3,358.22 
			 Plawsworth 16 446,722.76 7,470.28 
			 Sheffield 12 265,727.18 5,853.02 
			 Carlisle 3 33,046.47 3,442.34 
			 Liverpool 16 287,283.31 3,387.77 
			 Manchester 27 302,177.13 2,641.41 
			 Preston 12 240,749.52 5,015.62 
			 Chelmsford 5 78,700.96 3,098.46 
			 Lewes 3 20,224.57 2,247.17 
			 Maidstone 7 149,118.55 6,717.05 
			 Norwich 2 164,932.94 41,233.24 
			 Oxford 4 77,351.97 6,043.12 
			 Reading 4 113,179.03 14,147.38 
			 St. Albans 4 248,181.28 15,319.83 
			 Caernarfon 4 24,727.27 5,375.49 
			 Cardiff 19 283,433.35 4,955.13 
			 Chester 10 215,539.41 5,083.48 
			 Swansea 6 116,920.81 4,752.88 
			 Bristol 11 216,468.14 4,146.90 
			 Exeter 5 59,478.43 3,671.51 
			 Plymouth 3 12,408.27 2,139.36 
			 Truro 2 14,112.21 2,822.44 
			 Winchester 9 312,737.97 4,681.71 
			 
			 Total cost  4,947,766.26  
		
	
	
		
			  Norwich judges lodgings data 2004-07 
			   Total running costs ()  Judge weeks used  Cost per judge week () 
			 2003-04 141,165.01 20.8 6,786.78 
			 2004-05 158,427.46 29.6 5,352.28 
			 2005-06 166,119.43 43.2 3,845.36 
			 2006-07 164,932.94 4 41,233.24

Judiciary: Allowances

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what allowances for  (a) accommodation and  (b) subsistence are payable to members of the judiciary required to stay overnight away from home in connection with their official duties; what rates apply to each category of judge; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Judicial office holders receive the following allowances where required to stay overnight, and away from their home, in connection with their official duties:
	 (a) Accommodation
	Hotels and private clubs in London: Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of 120 for bed and breakfast costs.
	Hotels and private clubs elsewhere: Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of 100 for bed and breakfast costs.
	Rented accommodation in London: Actual rental expenditure up to a ceiling of 60.
	Rented accommodation elsewhere: Actual rental expenditure up to a ceiling of 50.
	Second home in London (e.g. town flat): Reimbursement of expenses necessarily incurred up to a limit of 32.45.
	Second home elsewhere (e.g. country cottage): Reimbursement of expenses necessarily incurred up to a limit of 31.
	 (b) Subsistence
	24 hour allowance for overnight stays: 21.
	Personal incidental expenditure allowance: 5.
	The rates apply to all categories of judge.
	Judges lodgings are available to High Court judges in a number of centres.

Legal Aid Scheme

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which 10 barristers received the highest fees for civil legal aid work from the community legal services in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how much was received in each case.

Maria Eagle: The most recent year for which the information is available is 2006-07. The 10 barristers receiving the highest fees for civil legal aid work in the year ending 31 March 2007 were:
	
		
			
			 Jeremy G. Rosenblatt 508,000 
			 Paul M. Storey Q.C. 362,000 
			 John P. Godfrey 357,000 
			 Stephen Knafler 350,000 
			 Simon W. Taylor Q.C. 334,000 
			 Robin S. Tolson Q.C. 328,000 
			 Jonathan L. Baker Q.C. 323,000 
			 Simeon A. Maskrey Q.C. 284,000 
			 Eleanor Hamilton Q.C. 281,000 
			 Ian J. C. Peddie Q.C. 272,000 
		
	
	These figures must be interpreted carefully and do not represent the personal earnings of the individuals listed in any one year. There are a number of reasons for this.
	The amounts paid to each barrister listed represent payments for work covering many years, for a variety of cases. The amount an individual receives in any year fluctuates widely, and is to a large extent due to the variety of payment processes and schemes used by the LSC and the courts.
	All the figures listed are inclusive of VAT (17.5 per cent.) as paid, and disbursements incurred (e.g. travelling). Individual barristers must pay that VAT to HM Revenue and Customs.
	Barristers pay a percentage of their fees towards professional overheads. Additionally, barristers face the same expenses as any other self-employed person, including income tax and national insurance contributions.
	These figures represent gross payments made to the barristers during the year. However, some of those monies have been paid (or may in the future be repaid) to the CLS by other parties. This will happen in cases where the legally aided party wins the case and recovers costs from the opponent. Once those costs are recovered the legally aided party's solicitor refunds some or all of the money to the CLS fund. As a consequence the figures may not reflect the actual cost of the barristers' fees to the fund. In some cases where costs are recovered from the losing party, the actual cost to the CLS fund may be very little or even nothing.
	This information has also been published on the Department's website at the following location:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/foi-highest-paid-barristers.htm

Legal Services Commission

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what changes have been made to the Legal Services Commission's  (a) targets for handling (i) correspondence and (ii) complaints and  (b) quality control checking procedures since its establishment, and on what dates; how these changes were notified to (A) regional directors and (B) account managers; and what procedures are in place to advise the Commission's customers of such changes;
	(2)  which categories of Legal Services Commission staff have job descriptions which include an element of customer service; what the paybands of each category are; what customer services are assessed; how staff performance against customer service objectives is measured; and what account is taken of customer service performance in staff remuneration;
	(3)  whether an element of the remuneration of  (a) the Chief Executive,  (b) members of the executive team,  (c) regional directors and  (d) account managers of the Legal Services Commission is linked to (i) the level of complaints made against the Commission and (ii) the Commission's customer service performance.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible to answer the questions in the exact format requested as the information is not all held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate effort.
	The LSC strives to maintain the highest standards of customer service and effective complaint handling. In order to pursue this each year the LSC measures its performance against a national customer service score. In 2006-07 the LSC exceeded this target by achieving 92 per cent. against a target of 88 per cent. In 2006-07 the number of complaints received dropped by 15 per cent., which was a continuing trend compared to previous years.
	The LSC will again report on customer service and complaints when it publishes its Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08. LSC annual reports are available at the LSC's website at:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/how/strategic_publications.asp
	Information on the LSC's remuneration policies and executive team pay is also published in the LSC's annual reports. The latest remuneration report is at pages 48-53 of the LSC's Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07.

Legal Services Commission: Complaints

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance the Legal Services Commission gives to those wishing to make complaints about the Commission; and what undertakings it makes to complainants about the handling of their complaints.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission is committed to providing the best possible service for all its customers. It strives to maintain the highest standards of customer service and effective complaint handling. Information on LSC's procedures and undertakings for handling complaints can be found on the How to Complain leaflet and available at their website at:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/cls_main/How_to_Complain_to_the_Legal_Services_Commission _May_07.pdf

Legal Services Commission: Complaints

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) training and  (b) guidance is provided to staff of the Legal Services Commission on the Commission's complaints procedure.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 411-12W to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara).

Legal Services Commission: Complaints

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many complaints the Legal Services Commission has received concerning its Chief Executive since 1 April 2007; when each complaint was received; how it was processed; and what the outcome of each complaint was;
	(2)  how many complaints concerning the Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission are outstanding; and how many of these relate to failures to process complaints in accordance with the Commission's procedures.

Bridget Prentice: There have been no complaints made about the chief executive since April 2007 within the formal complaints procedure. One individual has contacted the chief executive directly with a variety of complaints. The chief executive wrote to the individual in March 2008 with a response to all complaints raised. The individual continued to complain, and accused the chief executive of failing to follow the LSC's complaints procedure. The individual has been advised to meet with the appropriate regional director so that the complaints can be dealt with at the appropriate level.

Life Imprisonment: Reoffenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment were convicted for serious offences within two years of their release from prison in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: This information is not available. The published statistics on reoffending do not include a breakdown at this level of detail. The information requested is not readily available from any single data source and would require data matching and manual checking of records to ensure that it was reliable. Providing this information would therefore incur disproportionate cost.
	For more information on the latest reoffending statistics, and on frequency and severity of reoffending, please consult:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/re-offending-adults-2000-05.pdf

Parole

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have had decisions on parole delayed by the cancellation of the Parole Board meeting at which decisions were due because the Board had not received the relevant paperwork in the last five years.

Jack Straw: The information requested is set out in the following table and is based on data held by the Parole Board. It includes determinate and indeterminate prisoners whose parole reviews were delayed while the Parole Board sought additional information. It excludes the Parole Board's review of recalled prisoners. It covers the period from April 2004 to March 2008; data on deferrals broken down by reasons for the deferral were not collected prior to 2004-05.
	
		
			   Number of deferrals 
			 2004-05 299 
			 2005-06 414 
			 2006-07 682 
			 2007-08 540

Powers of Attorney

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent consideration he has given to simplifying the forms for incepting lasting powers of attorney;
	(2)  whether steps are being taken to reduce the costs of making lasting powers of attorney; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what charges apply to setting up lasting powers of attorney.

Bridget Prentice: Since the commencement of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in October 2007, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) forms and related guidance have been available free of charge from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Registration of an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian attracts a fee of 150.00. This represents a small increase on the cost of registering an older Enduring Power of Attorney of 125.00. The increase reflects the additional costs to the OPG in processing LPAs. These fees are subject to a system of remissions and exemptions for people on low incomes.
	There was wide public consultation when the forms and guidance were designed and the aim was to produce documents that both met the legislative requirements but could also be filled in easily. We were mindful of the fact that many users would be lay people who would have little prior knowledge of LPAs or how they operate. The forms were designed with the needs of this audience in mind and were put through external usability tests that were used to refine the forms further.
	The OPG will be reviewing the effectiveness of the Act once it has been in operation for a full year and there has been an opportunity to see how well it is working in practice. As part of this review the OPG will be looking at the design of the LPA forms and guidance to identify whether any improvements might be possible.
	The OPG will also be considering the current fee structure around the same period and will be considering whether any changes to the current fees may be necessary.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 14th May 2008,  Official Report, column 1572W, on prisoners: release, how many prisoners have been released automatically at the halfway point under section 244 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA03) applies to those prisoners who committed an offence on or after 4 April 2005. The Act states that all offenders who receive a standard determinate sentence are automatically released at the halfway point of their sentence and remain under licence, subject to recall if they breach licence conditions, for the remainder of their sentence. Offenders who receive an indeterminate or extended sentence for a sexual or violent offence, are not automatically released, although an extended sentence prisoner may be released at the halfway point upon the Parole Board's discretion.
	The following table provides the information available, extracted from tables 10.1 and 10.2 from the latest annual publication Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2006. This gives the number of people released from prison with a sentence from 12 months to four years. The majority of these people are likely to have been sentenced under CJA03 and therefore released at the halfway point. It should be noted that as CJA03 refers only to those offences committed on or after 4 April 2005, the majority of people released from sentences of over three years will have been sentenced under earlier Acts.
	
		
			  Number of prisoners discharged from determinate sentences on completion of sentence or on licenceadults 
			  Length of sentence( 1)  Number of persons discharged( 2, 3) 
			 12 months 2,800 
			 Over 12 months and up to and including 18 months 4,600 
			 Over 18 months up to and including 3 years 8,900 
			 Over 3 years and less than 4 years 2,700 
			 4 years 1,400 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of prisoners discharged from determinate sentences on completion of sentence or on licenceyoung offenders 
			  Length of Sentence( 1)  Number of persons discharged( 2, 3) 
			 12 months 700 
			 Over 12 months and up to and including 18 months 700 
			 Over 18 months up to and including 3 years 1,000 
			 Over 3 years and less than 4 years 300 
			 4 years 100 
			 (1) On discharge: the sentence may change after reception if there are further charges or an appeal. (2 )Excluded discharges following recall after release on licence, non-criminals, persons committed to custody for non-payment of a fine and persons reclassified as adult prisoners. (3 )Rounded to the nearest 100 or the nearest 10 for number less than 100. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Children

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will commission research on the number of children who take time off schools to visit a parent in prison.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Visiting a parent in prison is one of many reasons why pupils are absent from school. Our guidance to schools and local authorities recognises it as one of the reasons why schools might authorise an absence. We also recommend that schools' and local authorities' strategies to manage and minimise absence should aim to address pupils' individual needs in order to prevent unnecessary or avoidable absence and help pupils catch up the work that they miss. Schools and local authorities are working hard to do this and the absence figures that we published for the 2006/07 school year show that this personalised approach is working. We do not see a need for research on this particular issue.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce the percentage of prisoners within the high security estate with an identified accommodation need who do not have appropriate support planned for them upon release.

David Hanson: During the year ending March 2008, 95.8 per cent. of those released from high security estate establishments were released with settled accommodation arranged for them. It should also be noted that the majority of these releases will be offenders subject to MAPPA arrangements. This means that they will have a structured release plan including supervised accommodation arrangements and appropriate support once back in the community.

Prosecutions: Licensing Act 2003

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there were under (i) section 141 (a), (ii) section 141 (b), and (iii) section 142 of the Licensing Act 2003 in each year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005 two defendants were proceeded against at magistrates courts and one found guilty at all courts in 2006, in England and Wales under section 141 (a) and (b). No defendants have been proceeded against or found guilty under section 142 of the Licensing Act.
	In addition, under the penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme established by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, the police can issue a 80 fixed penalty to those found selling or attempting to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk (section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003 (c.17) The number of PNDs issued were 32 in 2005 and 47 in 2006.

Sentencing

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length was of sentences  (a) handed down to and  (b) served by those who were convicted of (i) violence against the person, (ii) sexual offences and (iii) robbery in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table shows the available data on average sentence length and time served (including remand), relating to those discharged between 2000 and 2006 from determinate sentences served in prisons in England and Wales, along with the corresponding numbers of discharges.
	
		
			  Months 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Adult average sentence length( 1)
			 Violence against the person 18 18 18 18 17 17 16 
			 Sexual offences 41 44 46 46 49 48 46 
			 Robbery 50 50 47 46 48 48 49 
			 
			  Young offender average sentence length( 1)
			 Violence against the person 12 12 12 13 13 12 11 
			 Sexual offences 23 26 22 25 22 25 23 
			 Robbery 25 23 24 24 25 23 22 
			 
			  Adult average time served including remand
			 Violence against the person 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 
			 Sexual offences 26 28 29 29 31 30 29 
			 Robbery 30 30 28 27 28 29 30 
			 
			  Young offender average time served including remand
			 Violence against the person 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 
			 Sexual offences 14 15 13 15 12 14 14 
			 Robbery 14 12 12 12 12 11 11 
		
	
	
		
			  Number 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Adult discharges( 2,3)
			 Violence against the person 9,800 9,600 10,100 10,200 11,500 12,600 12,200 
			 Sexual offences 2,200 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,000 2,000 
			 Robbery 2,500 2,300 2,700 2,900 3,000 2,900 2,800 
			 
			  Young offender discharges( 2,3)
			 Violence against the person 2,900 3,100 3,000 2,900 3,000 3,200 2,800 
			 Sexual offences 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			 Robbery 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,200 
			 (1) On discharge : the sentence may change after reception if there are further charges or an appeal. (2) Excludes discharges following recall after release on licence, non-criminals, persons committed to custody for non-payment of a fine. (3) Rounded to the nearest 100. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Victim Support Schemes: Social Security Benefits

Helen Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the access of victims of crime and their families to effective advice on benefits; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: None.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Recordings

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) VHS,  (b) DVD,  (c) electronic digital and  (d) other format videos the Cabinet Office has produced in the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office makes use of videos for a variety of purposes including raising awareness, sharing information, engaging key audiences and training both inside and beyond the Cabinet Office. On-line video in particular is now a very cost-effective communication tool and is used on both the Cabinet Office and allied websites and on the Department's intranet. No central record is kept of the number of videos produced.

English Language

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK for whom English is not their first language.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no exact figures for the number of people in the UK for whom English is not their first language. The Skills for Life Survey published in 2003 reported that 7-8 per cent. of adults of working age in England (2.2-2.5 million people) spoke a first language which was not English.